2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Notes: God chooses and calls those who by their detachment from the things of the world are willing to accept him. The prophet Samuel played a very important role in the history of the People of Israel. When The Lord called him, Samuel was unsure of who it was that was calling. However, once he recognised the voice of The Lord he responded by opening himself up to an life-enhancing relationship with God.

'Speak, Lord, your servant is listening'

Samuel was lying in the sanctuary of the Lord, where the ark of God was, when the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ Then he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I did not call. Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down. Once again the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ He replied, ‘I did not call you, my son; go back and lie down.’ Samuel had as yet no knowledge of the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again the Lord called, the third time. He got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli then understood that it was the Lord who was calling the boy, and he said to Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if someone calls say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  The Lord then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’  Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him and let no word of his fall to the ground. 

Notes: In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul the Apostle shows that his moral teachings are rooted in the living Word of the Gospel. Over the coming five Sundays we will read from that part of  First Corinthians which teaches that the Christian way of life recognises and respects the dignity of the human person  who is a Temple of The Holy Spirit. The context in which this letter was written was the prevailing depravity and immorality of the city of Corinth.

Do not sin against your own body

The body is not meant for fornication: it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God, who raised the Lord from the dead, will by his power raise us up too.  You know, surely, that your bodies are members making up the body of Christ; do you think I can take parts of Christ’s body and join them to the body of a prostitute? Never! But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.  Keep away from fornication. All the other sins are committed outside the body; but to fornicate is to sin against your own body. Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God. 

Notes: The search for meaning in life has  drawn people in every generation to seek out inspired prophets who point a way to what they perceived to be the truth about life. John the Baptist was one such person to whom people came. In this charismatic prophet the transition form the old to the new covenant is made. John points to Christ and guides is own closest disciples to recognise the Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth; they then follow him and stay with him.

'We have found the Messiah'

As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour.  One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock.