A CALL FROM THE TEMPLE

 Meditation for 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
(1 Sam 3:3-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13-15, 17-20; Jn 1:35-42)

The readings of today talk about God’s call and our response. In the first reading, “Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’” Through the directive of Eli, Samuel answered the Lord. Imagine beautiful place they boy Samuel was lying down: before the Ark of the Covenant, which was the closest point of contact with God at that time.

The second reading talks about the call to personal holiness, which can only be achieved when we shun immorality. Moral living is hinged on the personal responsibility and discipline we take for our bodies. According to St Paul, this is because our bodies are destined for the resurrection in Christ Jesus, since our bodies are also members of Christ. Sexual immorality of any kind is the greatest dishonour anyone can give to his/her body. Further, St Paul explains that since our bodies are redeemed by Christ, they are now TEMPLES of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us.

As Samuel goes up to the Ark of God to lie down, so the Holy Spirit comes down to our bodies to dwell and calls us from within the silence and depths of the heart. If we abuse our bodies and dishonour it through sexual immorality, how can we hear and discern what the Spirit is prompting us to do. Sexual immorality is like shutting the Holy Spirit off His temple. Through the bodily resurrection of Jesus, we have been redeemed even in our bodies, therefore, we are no longer our own; we live no longer for ourselves. “You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Then, we can constantly respond to the Holy Spirit in the words of Samuel, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

In Gospel, we see John the Baptist directing his two disciples to Jesus just as Eli guided Samuel to hear the Lord, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” This title already introduces Jesus as the Messiah, who offers His Body as the Temple of sacrifice on the Cross. As Samuel took his abode before the Ark, so the two disciples stayed with Jesus. Afterwards, Andrew in turn called his brother to meet Jesus.

The Holy Spirit instils the life of Christ in us that we might hear and put into action the righteousness of Jesus. That is why we must keep our bodies pure so that the Holy Spirit will find His abode in us. Then we can go forward and bring others to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who redeems us, even in our weak mortal flesh. Hearing God's call is no more just avoiding immorality, it is now stepping forward like the disciples to encounter Jesus and to stay with Him. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday January 17^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com