Wednesday 10 January 2024

Today is Wednesday the 10th of January, in the first week of Ordinary time.

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. Wherever I am right now, what can I see? What can I see around me? I remember for a moment that God is present in all of this, that all of this has been made by God, and is loved by God, that God holds me, and all of this, in the palm of his hand.

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
Like the deer that yearns for running streams
So my soul is yearning for my God
My tears have become my bread day and night
As I hear it said：'Where is your God?'
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
By day the Lord will send His loving Spirit
By night I will sing praises to the God of my life
Send out Your light and Your truth as my guide
To lead me to Your holy ground
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
Then shall I go to the God of my joy
Singing praise, praise on the lyre and the harp
Why so downcast my soul?
Put your hope and trust in my Saviour, my God
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum

Today’s reading is from the First Book of Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

Samuel didn’t know that God was calling him until Eli helped him understand that he was hearing God’s voice.

In what ways has God called me?

How did I know it was God?

Who do I trust to help me recognise God’s calling?

I give thanks for those people who have been like Eli for me.

‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’

As I listen to Samuel’s story again, I resolve to echo his words and listen to God’s message for me.

In these last moments of prayers, I sit in silence and listen expectantly. I note anything that stirs in me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.