2 Ordinary: January 16/17, 2021

​“Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the Ark of God was.  And the Lord called to Samuel. . .”
          For the last couple of years, I have used a story with our eighth graders on their one day retreat  – with the encouragement that they will never hear God calling them ---- it they never quiet their lives enough to listen. . .  I think it is a lesson all of us, including myself, need to be reminded of from time to time.  So the story:  God is in the Silence  by Fiona Basile.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . .  God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
          God is speaking to your heart.  Are you listening?  I love you God says.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . . God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
          Listen closely to your heart.  I love you, God says.  You are precious in my eyes.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . . God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
          God lives in your heart.  I love you, God says.  You are precious in my eyes.  There is no one else like you.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . . God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
          Listen closely to your heart.  I love you, God says.  You are precious in my eyes.  There is no one else like you.  I created you just the way you are.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . .  God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
          Listen closely to your heart.  I love you God says.  You are precious in my eyes.  There is no one else like you.  I created you just the way you are.  You are mine.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . .  God is in the silence.  Can you hear God?
 
 
          Listen closely to your heart.  I love you, God says.  You are precious in my eyes.  There is no one else like you.  I created you just the way you are.  You are mine.  I am always with you.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . . God is in the silence.
Listen closely to your heart.  There is where God lives.  Can you hear God?
          I love you, God says.  You are precious in my eyes.  There is no one else like you.  I created you just the way you are.  And you are mine.  I am always with you.  You are safe.
          So rest --- and know that God is always in your heart.
          Be still.  Be quiet. . .  God is in the silence --- but we have to be willing to listen.
 
          And that’s the end of the story. . .
 
          After Samuel, with Eli’s help – figured out that it was God who was calling him ---
Samuel grew up to be a great prophet – a great spokesperson – for God.  Samuel was the last of the great judges of Israel and helped usher in the monarchy by anointing Saul the first king of Israel.
          It is said of Samuel that few people in the Bible were as obedient to God as he was.
          So what is God calling us to do??   Certainly like Andrew and Simon Peter in the Gospel – God is calling us to be followers of Jesus.
          But beyond that --- what is God calling us to do??  We will never know unless we listen:
Be still.  Be quiet. . . for God is in the silence.
          So ---- as I do on the eighth grade retreat  – let’s just sit in silence for a few minutes --- and invite God to speak to us – and like some of our eighth graders – this might not be easy for some of you . . .
 
[2 minutes of Silence]
 
          Perhaps we can add such moments of silence into our daily routines --- and begin to be overwhelmed by how much God has to say to us --- if we just quiet ourselves and listen. . .
          Be still.  Be quiet.
So the next time Jesus calls us by name to come and follow after him – we can say: 
          Here I am Lord, here I am:   I come to do your will!