the call in the night

Cheers to all who are blogging through the Bible in 90 days. I wish you well on your journey! I’m sticking to reading the day’s liturgical readings in the morning over a cup of coffee. More my speed. And today’s 1st Reading is one of my favorite!!!

Sm 3:1-10, 19-20
During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and 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 Eli 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.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beershebacame to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD

See why it’s one of my favorites? God is calling each of us into relationship. God has plans for us all. And we want to answer. It’s just tricky knowing how. Samuel was blessed to have Eli to help him show the way. We have people in our lives too we can talk to. Friends, counselors, pastors, family, spiritual directors. God is working through them, calling us into life. We need only answer "Speak, for your servant is listening."

This reading is a source of hope for all those who are struggling with discernment. Listening is not so simple, as Samuel tells us today. The Psalm (40) is beautiful as well. What a way to start the day.

(By the way, if you are a frequent or occasional visitor to this blog, please take a minute to leave a comment to this post! It’s my week to get to know who YOU are!!! Blessings on your day)