Today’s first reading is the story of the call of the prophet Samuel. His first couples of responses are “Here I am” as he mistakes the voice of God for the voice of the priest Eli, thinking that it is Eli who is calling him. Finally, Eli helps Samuel to realize that it is the Lord who is calls him and Samuel finally responds to the Lord: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
The call of Samuel is a good example of a vocation or call. St. Francis heard the call of Jesus from the cross to rebuild his house. Francis thought God meant it in a literal sense and started repairing broken down chapels in Assisi. Finally, he came to realize that God wanted him to rebuild not the physical building but the spiritual building, the Body of Christ. So, Francis set about evangelizing and preaching the Gospel. Francis’ Rule for his order was the Gospel. He began his rule in this way: “The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ…” So, the Rule was to live the Gospel. Francis himself did this in a most radical way.
In today’s Gospel Jesus shows us what living the Gospel entails. Jesus’ ministry is one of healing, humility, and compassion. He overcame evil and performed exorcism. Today’s Gospel gives us a summary of Jesus ministry:
“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.”
Jesus did not seek his own glory and when Simon Peter told him, “Everyone is looking for you” he just told Peter it was time to move on: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” Jesus’ vocation was to do his Father’s will. His purpose or call was to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God all over, excluding no one.
Today’s reading asks us to reflect on our own call or vocation. Like Samuel or Francis of Assisi we may at first mishear or misunderstand God’s call. All we need to do is respond: “Here I am.” God is patient with us and will keep calling until we recognize his voice and respond like the prophet Samuel: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Image: “IMG_2352AB Claude Vignon. 1593-1670. Paris. Le prophète Samuel.The prophet Samuel. Rouen Musée des Beaux Arts” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.