1st book of Samuel 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." He 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 he 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. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
Psalms 40(39),2-5.7-8.8-9.10.
I waited, waited for the LORD; who bent down and heard my cry,
Drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, Set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps,
And put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God. Many shall look on in awe and they shall trust in the LORD.
Happy those whose trust is the LORD, who turn not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.
sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offerings you do not require;
so I said, "Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll.
so I said, "Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll.
To do your will is my delight; my God, your law is in my heart!"
I announced your deed to a great assembly; I did not restrain my lips; you, LORD, are my witness.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1,29-39.
On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
THE MIRACLE OF PARISH RENEWAL
"Speak, for Your servant is listening." –1 Samuel 3:10
The Church in Samuel's day was a mess. The high priest Eli "was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see" (1 Sm 3:2). Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, "treated the offerings to the Lord with disdain" because of their gluttony (1 Sm 2:17). They also had sexual "relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent" (1 Sm 2:22). No wonder "a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent" (1 Sm 3:1).
Some of us also experience a lethargic, blind, greedy, and lustful church. We may not be as wicked as those in Samuel's "church," but we, like them, don't receive the Lord's revelations and visions that frequently. Under these circumstances, we feel like either leaving the Church or going to sleep. However, we should do what Samuel did. Samuel answered God's call, regardless of how wicked the "church" was. Then the Lord "revealed His presence" to him (1 Sm 3:10). "Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect" (1 Sm 3:19).
The Lord is renewing His Church even under the worst circumstances. He's working through people who stay in Church but don't stay asleep. He's working renewal through those who have faith enough to obey Him even when there seems no hope.
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