First Reading: 1 Sam 3:3-10, 19
We are in the second Sunday
of ordinary Time. The readings of this Sunday are about the call of God. In the
first reading God is calling young Samuel for the prophetic and priestly
mission. The setting of the event gives us a glimpse of what was happening to
the priesthood in Israel. Eli, the priest is sleeping outside the house where
the ark of the Lord is kept. Priests are supposed to be attentive listeners to the
voice of God and guard the holiness of the temple. Eli has failed in that duty.
This failure is figuratively signified in the act of his sleeping. The text
states that ‘the Word of the Lord was rare in those days” (1 Sam 3:1). It is
due to the sleepiness of priests in Israel that the Word of God could not be
heard. It is not that God shut His mouth from prophecy or purposely kept quit
for some apt time to speak out. No, the men of God was not receptive to His
voice. In the previous chapter (1 Sam 2) we see sons of Eli - Hophni
and Phinehas – who are priests involving in blasphemy and profaning the
sacrifice at the altar. This infuriates God. Eli makes some attempts to correct
them but those attempts could not bring any significant change in his sons abhorring
behaviours. Eli stops with attempts, he does not dare to prevent his sons from
exercising their priestly ministry. His priority is set over his sons than the
holiness of the altar. Human relationship blinds Eli from giving importance to his priestly ministry. Thus,
he becomes a scandal for priesthood in Israel.
God calls
young Samuel at the time when he has not yet known God. He had to be guided by
someone to know God. Eli, though wicked and has brought disgrace to priesthood
still has the ability to accompany Samuel to the voice of God. The need of the
spiritual direction is pointed out here. Samuel is very faithful in listening
and getting guidance from his master Eli. Though Samuel might be aware of – at least
something that is comprehensible to his age – the wickedness of his master Eli
and the evil doings of his sons, he neither distances himself from Eli, nor
doubts his spiritual guidance. Eli is only an instrument, not God. The power of
his priesthood rests on God who has anointed him to this sacred ministry. Eli
is cursed by God yet he guides Samuel correctly. The need of Samuel is met. God
still uses his unfaithful ministers to guide people who need direction, because
the one who directs is the invisible God who acts under the visibility of the
wicked minister. We also observe the faithful ministry of Eli towards his
pupil. Eli couldn’t be a successful father towards his sons, but he has
faithfully fathered his spiritual son. His personal problem has not affected
his spiritual ministry towards others. What a model for today’s spiritual
guides, pastors and mentors!
In the
Gospel, Jesus calls the disciples of John the Baptist to have live-in
experience with Him. His first invitation for discipleship is to come and see (Jn
1:39). The lived experience of those disciples pushes them to bring others to
have that same experience, Andrew goes and brings Simon Peter to Jesus (Jn 1:40-42).
Thus, the proclamation or any ministry towards people begins from the lived experience
of the disciple. Mother Teresa of Calcutta discovered this secret and made it mandatory
for his congregation. The Holy Hour at each morning is the secret for Mother
Teresa and Missionaries of Charity to unleash love and patience towards their beneficiaries.
In this 21st Century, the devotion to Holy Hour is on the rise. Many
perpetual adoration chapels are being built to promote Eucharistic devotion. All
these efforts are to give a live-in experience with Jesus. The lived experience
of fist disciples still continue to take place at various Holy Hours and
perpetual adoration chapels. The people who set the world on fire with their
holiness, preaching, ministry and endeavors are God experienced people. Those who fascinate and attract are lauded
as celebrities in the world. They make the world to envy their position and
status. On the contrary, those who set the world on fire are godly people who
have paid attention to the voice of God. They make the world a better place, a
little heaven to live in. They touch others with divinity in their humanity. May
we be receptive to the voice of God and submit ourselves regularly to the
spiritual guidance. Let our adherence and attendance to the Eucharistic Lord moves
us to bring others to Him.
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