These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said “Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the Lord from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies.” (1 Sam 4:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011322.cfm
The Ark Narrative (1 Samuel 4:1-7:1) can read a lot like a script for Indiana Jones. Perhaps it might be best to see religious objects not as talismans, but rather as reminders of our commitment to the Lord. As today’s reading reminds us, the Ark did not save Israel. The battle was lost, and the Ark along with it.
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” (1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011222.cfm
The Call of Samuel is one of my favorite Bible stories. I remember hearing this story when I wasn’t much older than Samuel. I always thought that Samuel was a lucky kid to be sleeping near the Ark of the Covenant and to hear God calling. But, of course, it was the old priest Eli who realized that it was God calling the child. And so Samuel answers God, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
As she remained long at prayer before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace,
and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Sam 1:9-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011122.cfm
A somewhat humorous scene in the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. And of course, Hannah’s hymn of praise becomes the model for the Magnificat of Mary in the Gospel of Luke. As Hannah sings: My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior (Responsorial Psalm).
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mk 1:14-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011022.cfm
Today in the weekday lectionary, we begin the continuous reading of the public ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, the oldest of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke). After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus begins his ministry with the call of the first disciples and the invitation, “Come, follow me.” If you’ve never had the opportunity to read one of the gospels straight through, perhaps you can begin today with Mark’s gospel!
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010922.cfm
In the Gospel of Luke, the revelation of Jesus as Son of God occurs at the Baptism, which of course begins his public ministry. The Antiphon for today is Hodie Christus Natus Est (Today Christ is Born): Today Christ is born; today the Savior has appeared; today the Angels sing, the Archangels rejoice; today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!