Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading offers us great encouragement for our life of prayer. I intentionally use the phrase “life of prayer,” rather than “prayer life” because I believe God calls us to live prayerful lives. As we become more and more mindful of God’s presence throughout each day, we can maintain an undercurrent of prayer, remaining open and receptive to the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Cultivating this approach prevents us from compartmentalizing our times of prayer to discrete moments during the day, or even from neglecting prayer altogether. Setting aside specific times for prayer is invaluable; so is “praying without ceasing,” as St Paul suggests, living a life of prayer in which every breath becomes communion with the Divine. In our first reading, God reassures us that despite our state in life, God speaks to each of us, and we can be confident in God’s presence with us.
The boy Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah to the Lord’s service in the temple under the mentorship and tutelage of a priest named Eli. We read the account of God speaking to Samuel, and Eli helping him to understand God’s presence with him. I find a couple of aspects of the story particularly striking. First, in those days, the text says, a revelation from the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent. God’s people likely would not have been expecting to hear from God, so their spiritual ears were probably not attuned nor receptive. Second, Samuel did not yet know the Lord; he did not have a personal relationship with God, nor had God’s word been revealed to him. Extrapolating this phenomenon to you and me, I think we can be confident that even when we feel distant from the Lord or spiritually dull, God still pursues us! Also, we can be confident that those throughout the world who do not yet know the Lord are not exempt from God’s loving touch. In 2 Peter 3:9 we read, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God pursues every man, woman, boy, and girl with extravagant love and continually speaks to us through the created order and through the Holy Spirit. God wants every person to know Godself! Over the years I’ve heard so many people lament, “God doesn’t speak to me,” or “I can’t hear from God.” I pray that today anyone who believes that lie will silence it in Jesus’ Name, and ask God for the graces needed to receive God’s love and hear God’s voice.
As we tune our spiritual ears and seek to hear from God, Eli wisely offers a simple, yet profound prayer. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. If you’re like me, much of your prayers become talking to God and offering the Divine a recitation of petitions and supplications, sprinkled in with thanksgiving and praise. I encourage each of us today to spend more time listening to the voice of God, so that our prayers become less monologue and more dialogue. Let’s spend time today intentionally in God’s presence to be still and to listen for God’s voice. Let’s also incorporate this simple prayer into our daily rhythm. Imagine how much we will grow in our ability to hear God, if we whisper this prayer frequently throughout each day. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
And so today, may God bless you to:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Amen!!
- Elizabeth Wourms