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.’”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Sam 3:1-10
Eli and Samuel teach us a great way to approach God in the Church or Adoration chapel, “Speak, for your servant is listening”. This is a great way to start daily silent prayer. We must first remember to sit in silence each day and prepare ourselves to listen to what God is trying to tell us.
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee. Mk 1:29-39
Often times as humans we seek popularity, not necessarily friendship but popularity. There is a big difference. We want to be with the in crowd and sometimes will do whatever it takes, even change ourselves, to fit in. Then, we go against who God made us to be and we will never be happy, just chasing our tail. God put a need for relationship in us or we would not desire Him. Friendship is very important, mutual respect and a willingness to stick together through thick and thin. There is a big difference between desiring popularity and friendship.
Jesus had the “whole town gathered at the door”. Was it because he was popular? No, people desired friendship, healing, reconciliation, love. Holiness is attractive, yet so many people run the other direction. The memories of the saints, their words, and deeds are remembered hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. We have schools and hospitals with their names on them. We celebrate their life and death in our Liturgical calendars. All because they followed the Words and actions of Jesus Christ. Jesus and the saints are the most popular, not because they changed to be someone else, but because they did the Will of the Father.
Last, Jesus reminds us that sometimes we need to rise very early before dawn to pray. We need the silence before anyone has awakened to hear God’s voice like Samuel in the first reading. We stay up late to party or we get up early to go to school and work, why not do so to pray! Follow the example of Christ.
Today’s challenge: Get up very early tomorrow morning, sit in silence and listen to God’s voice in your heart and let Him direct you, then you will know for “what purpose you have come”. Seek friendship and God, not popularity and you may end up the most popular.
Day 5 Total Consecration
Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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