The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 15, 2006
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
John 1:35-42

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Our readings today are all about call. In the first reading, the Lord calls the young boy, Samuel, in the middle of the night. Samuel thinks that the voice he hears is that of Eli, the old priest with whom he lives in the Temple school. After Eli has sent him back to sleep a couple of times, the priest realizes that it is God Himself who is calling the lad. So he tells Samuel, that if he hears the voice again, he is to say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Again, the theme of “call” is found in John’s Gospel. John, the faithful messenger of the Lord, points out Jesus to his followers, calling Him, the “Lamb of God”. Andrew, one of the disciples, finds out where Jesus lives, and is so impressed with what he sees that he quickly goes to share the news with his older brother, Simon Peter.

What if, even when Samuel knew that God was calling him, he had just turned over and gone back to sleep as before? Or what if Peter, after listening to his younger brother, had just decided that fishing was a more profitable way to make a living? Not that there’s anything wrong with sleeping or fishing, but there’s a world out there desperately in need of Eucharist, and millions of people could starve to death if young people continue to ignore the invitation of Jesus.

We need more Eli’s and John the Baptists and Andrews helping our young people recognize the Voice that’s calling them. It could be a priest, or a parent, or just a good friend of someone that seems to really cut out for ministry in the Church. This Sunday’s readings seem to be calling loudly and clearly to all of us!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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