Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wake Up Call
What are you looking for? Where are you staying? Come and see! In John’s gospel this weekend we hear about succession and a transfer of power. John transitions his followers into being followers of Jesus by first naming Jesus as Teacher. Jesus then asks Andrew: What are you looking for? Perhaps Andrew was befuddled and like most of us today answers the question with another question—Where are you staying? Jesus responds with strong, but inviting action words—Come and see! And they stayed with Jesus. And Jesus changed their names!
Imagine that Jesus is asking us the same question: What are you looking for? For yourself? For your family? For our parish community? For our country? Can you STAY with Jesus and let Jesus inform you? Where do you go to “come and see?”
This conversation is really about discernment—seeking new information from reliable teachers, seeing and listening with a new, inquiring spirit and the openness to hear challenges, often beyond our understanding at the moment. It is about searching for what God wants of us, for us.
Many of us are overwrought with fear of COVID and with concern for what’s happening in the transfer of power in our country after a difficult election period. These are life-changing times and hopefully we are asking Jesus where Jesus is staying today, in all of this conflict and confusion. Are we taking the time to “come and see” what Jesus is revealing to us in all of this?
In the other “call” narrative we hear this weekend, Samuel hears a call in his dreams. His response is quick and repetitive. Three times he mistakes who the caller is and confidently responds: “Here I am. You called me.” It is Eli who convinces Samuel to respond differently with “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Eli understood that this call was coming from the Lord. Eli helped Samuel to discern this call and what it meant. Samuel’s response changed and the words he used mattered.
We learn that the young Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Eli’s guidance provides a different perspective, not simply Samuel’s own thinking of what his response should be. Samuel announces to the Lord that he is listening and that he is listening to the voice of God in everything, at all times. He listens with humility and a desire to serve God, rather than his own interests, and the Lord blesses Samuel, “not permitting any word of his to be without effect.”
Can we be like Samuel? After listening and discernment, seeking different perspectives, what words do we choose to use? Words matter! May our words have the Lord’s blessing!