1st Reading – 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel cover the transition from the period of judges to the establishment of a monarchy in ancient Israel. These books are important both from a historical and theological perspective, offering insights into the complexities of human leadership and divine intervention in the unfolding story of Israel.

The prophet Samuel, for whom the books are named, was the last of the Hebrew Judges and was instructed by God to anoint the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel, Saul and David.

Today, we hear the story of Samuel’s calling. Continue reading “Jan 14, 2024: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)” →