HEAR THE VOICE
God usually chooses to deal with people through other people... God must
speak, and we must listen carefully.
God usually chooses
to deal with people through other people. Of course He can reveal Himself
directly to anyone he wishes, as He did with Samuel in the temple. Eli had to
make clear to Samuel that the voice he was hearing was the voice of God. Today
we meet one of the greatest of the prophets, Samuel, whose response to God's calling
him rings out through all time. This response marks the classic expression and
a whole-hearted openness and dedication to the word of God. "Speak, Lord,
for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9). These two activities are
the fundamental criteria for recognizing the presence of all true prophecy. God
must speak, and we must listen carefully.
The greatest
manifestation of God is through the humanity of Jesus. But even Jesus Himself
works through in cooperation with others. We read about that today in the
Gospel of Mark - Simon and Andrew call to His attention the fact that Simon's
mother-in-law was ill with a fever (Mk 1:30). Later people brought to Jesus
those who were sick and those possessed by demons.
Points to Pray and Ponder: God wants
to act through us now. Perhaps we do not think that we are holy enough or that
we are suitable instruments for God. We should remove that thought from our
minds!
In the Responsorial
Psalm we prayed. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will (Ps 40).