Gospel reflection for Jan. 14, 2024, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are introduced this Second Sunday of the Year to one of the most significant personages in the history of Israel Samuel. He is the important transitional figure, serving not just as a prophet and priest, but also as the last of the judges, and the one who appoints and anoints the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel’s significance in the history of Israel is indicated as there are two books in the Bible which bear his name.
Dedicated from his youth to the service of the Temple, Samuel lives under the tutelage of the prophet Eli. His mother, Hannah, had prayed earnestly for a son and offered that son as a dedicated nazirite to the Lord and presented him to Eli to be raised in the Temple. Trained to minister before the Lord, the boy Samuel shows all of the outward signs of holiness and dedication in his service. Yet, the author makes a curious statement about Samuel: “At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.”
In his unfamiliarity with the Lord, the young Samuel is not unlike so many people today who are similarly unfamiliar with the Lord. Although he had served at the Temple and was guided by Eli, he knew little about the Lord. Even when God calls to him directly Samuel does not recognize the Lord, as he did not even know that he was to be open to the call. Eli, who is himself a tragic figure in Israel’s history, failed to prepare the youth for the call of God to him, and even took a while himself to understand what was happening. Samuel was open to the action of God, and fulfilled his mission unwaveringly throughout the rest of his long life. All of this happened in the eleventh century before Jesus, when Israel was yet a fledgling association of tribes.
As we move forward the time of Jesus, we are in a different period of history. The Golden Age of Israel is long past and the desire to restore the kingdom that Samuel worked to establish lives on in the consciousness of the people. There is a magnificent new Temple being constructed in Jerusalem and the people are very well familiar with the Scriptures and the ways of the Lord. Yet, also for many, the mere adherence to the Laws and the offering of sacrifices was not enough, they longed for more.
John the Baptizer emerged from the wilderness proclaiming the coming of the Messianic Age and a new dispensation of salvation. He preached forgiveness of sins and a total conversion of heart and mind to the Lord. Many Jews who were seeking a deeper meaning in their faith responded to John the Baptizer’s call to conversion.
John was not the messiah, but he knew that he would recognize the messiah when he saw him. In his mission as the one to prepare the way for the Lord, he indicated to two disciples that instead of being with him they should follow the one whom he pointed out as the “Lamb of God.” As faithful Jews they understood the meaning of John’s words and immediately went after a stranger who had no one with him at all. What courage it must have taken to approach this man walking alone and ask to follow him. Jesus seems to put off at first, but in their persistence, he relents and he spends the day with him.
They went to Jesus and brought others – including Simon Peter – to him. They become the first disciples of Jesus. The disciples needed the Baptizer to point them to Jesus; they needed each other, then, also to point them to Jesus.
Today so many are unfamiliar with the Lord. Like Samuel many would respond to the call of the Lord if only they knew he was calling them. Sadly, many do not even know that they need to seek the Lord, or to be open to him.
A young Samuel, too, needed the guidance of a mentor, the prophet Eli, to direct his call. Today many miss the call to discipleship and vocation because they lack mentors to point them to the Lord. Each one of us needs to be an Eli or John the Baptizer, drawing those whom the Lord calls into a deeper relationship with him.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.