SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT HEARS

                         Reflection for Wednesday  of the First Week in Ordinary Time Year A

                                                       (1Sam 3: 1-10.19-20; Mk 1:29-39)

Today in our daily reflection,  the boy Samuel is introduced. He served Eli the priest. Samuel was young and inexperienced, while Eli was old with lots of insight. The boy servant was lying down within the temple, where the Ark of God was, but Eli slept in his room. Samuel was stepping into the shoes of Eli. Then came the vision!

“Samuel, Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli. This shows that the boy was prompt and diligent at duty; He was humble, open minded and respectful to the priest. Above all, he had fear of God, and enjoyed God's presence. With all these virtues, Samuel lived out his purpose in life—a life dedicated to God. Still, he had no experience of discerning God's call. The old priest intervened and directed him aright. So when the Lord called again Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

This answer became, not just a momentary response, but a way of life for him. From now onwards, the ministry of Samuel would be marked by this habit of attentiveness to the word of God. His prompt response to divine illumination was excellent. It takes a man of interior silence to cultivate such attentiveness to God. People from all parts of Israel consulted Samuel, and he listened to them.

Yes, that was how the crowds sought for Jesus. He was attentive to the needs of the sick and the possessed. We see His promptness in responding to Simon's mother-in-law and all who came to Him.  Later, Jesus went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed. Therefore, ‘the place of silence’ is readily a place of prayer and divine encounter. This is where we listen to divine illumination. For Samuel, it was before the Ark of the Covenant. But Jesus is divine presence Himself, so He sanctifies every place of silence where He is welcome into a serene place of hearing God’s voice. 

Therefore, if we create silence within, and welcome Jesus thus, then we can hear God from the depths of our hearts. This gives us bodily rest, and disposes our hearts for prompt response to divine call. Then, ‘Speak Lord, your servant hears’ becomes the living experience of one who, Like Samuel, lives out His purpose on earth by disposing his heart to silence and to divine illumination.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R 

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 

Tedi-Muwo, Ooh, Lagos. 

Wednesday 15th January, 2020.