Lectionary Reflection for January 18, 2009

Readings:
1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
John 1:35-42

Thoughts for Your Consideration:

This week’s readings offer us two interrelated themes: the call and the temple. The first reading sets these two themes together with Samuel’s experience of being called while he is serving in the temple. Samuel’s experience seems unique but in some ways it reflects something many of us can relate with. Just as God is calling Samuel, we as Christians know that God, through Christ, also calls us to service. Like Samuel many of us feel confused by this call and many times we assume that this call must be coming from the familiar sources that are calling us to the typical responsibilities and tasks that we are used to following. However Samuel, with Eli’s guidance, opens himself to the service of something greater. But as the story continues, Samuel becomes aware of how challenging it is be at the service of God and at first Samuel does not know how to respond to the challenging prophesies that God is imparting on him.

 

God calls Samuel to a prophetic ministry beyond his duties to the Temple building. In fact this first prophetic wisdom that God shares with Samuel is directly related to the unjust actions of Eli’s sons. They not only defile themselves in their own personal lives but they are defiling the community by their own corrupt practices. Paul’s letter which reflects on the image of our body as temple helps us to understand the sacred dignity of the human person by describing it as a temple. How we treat and respect ourselves and others is the priority for God with Israel, The early Christian community, and indeed the whole of creation.

 

The Gospel reading demonstrates this priority. John, being a prophet, is aware of Jesus and his sacred mission. As he identifies the “Lamb of God” two of his own disciples go forth to follow Jesus although at first we get a sense that they are not sure what they are in for. They curiously ask him “where are you staying?” and Jesus gives the simple response “Come and see.” As we know from the rest of the gospels Jesus does not settle himself in the Temple or any one particular synagogue or house. Throughout his ministry Jesus centers himself with the suffering human community. He preaches the good news to many who are suffering from an empty existence. He heals those who suffer every form of physical or mental condition, he raises the dead, he protects those who are marginalized and at every step he promotes the peaceful unity of the human community. This then is the temple that Jesus is rebuilding. The ultimate temple of God becomes a sacred creation that is living in justice and peace. And this is what we as disciples are called to establish.

 

How shall we respond to this call? As Paul reminds us we begin by looking at ourselves. If we do not respect our own scared dignity as being “members of Christ” then how can we possibly begin to respect the true dignity of the rest of humanity and creation? This ought to be a humbling exercise. In discovering our own relationship to the mystical body we also become aware of the other members of the body. While this will call us to appreciate our freedom and rights it will also call us to be engaged in the struggles and issues of the world. It is a call to engage in the social and political issues of our time. It is a call to ask questions and search for answers. It is a call to be part of the global human community. It is a call to create structures of justice and peace and to celebrate the integrity of all creation.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group:

• When have you experienced a call from God?
• When and how did this call involve a concern for peace and justice in our world?
• What call do you hear for our nation as a new administration takes over?
• What Christian values must we focus on as a nation?
  

Please share any comments or thoughts you may have on this reflection.

Peace,

John