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.
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!
Alleluia (Mt 4:16)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010822.cfm
We come to the close of the Christmas Season with tomorrow’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Together with Mary, the Mother of the Lord, we have treasured all these things and reflected on them in our heart. Of the hidden life of the Lord, the thirty or so years spent in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, we know almost nothing, but all is revealed in the light of his public ministry. Today on my birthday, we have one of my favorite carols and our last of this Christmas Season, Los Peces En El Rio (The Fishes in the River).