When we begin our Liturgy, we are invited to acknowledge our sins, and to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mystery which the Mass invokes. And in a very real way, when we pause and ready ourselves for the Penitential Rite, we are getting ready to listen. The opening of the Liturgy calls to mind for us that the One True God, who is faithful, speaks to us through the Word and the Sacraments. To be sure we do this faith experience as a community.
Eli understands that God is calling Samuel, as we hear in the first reading today. Eli who is a mentor for Samuel, tells him to listen again for God, and then to respond in the affirmative. Part of the background to this story is that folks had forgotten about God, and lived Sinful and immoral lives. Their religion had become an external show of piety. We cannot love or respond to one we do know. So Eli directs Samuel into this new, and somewhat confusing relationship.
As John the Baptist directs the Disciples towards Jesus, he preparing them to continue their faith journey. Again we have a mentor pointing the way for followers to discover truth - and God. Jesus does not welcome these new disciples by theology, or religious studies, but by experiencing something about his mission and ministry. Come and see. Again it is a time of listening and reflecting upon the deeper mystery that is present.
Today we meet a lot of folks who testify about what they have seen and heard. The readings are a powerful challenge to each of us personally, and to our parish communities to be places where the celebration of these sacred mysteries, is also an occasion to bear witness to God's love and mercy. Our small 's' stories blend with the 'S' stories of our faith tradition, so as to draw each other to faith. More so reflecting on these stories of faith, we are better able to respond to the triumphs and sorrows of our lives.
Just as John points to the Lamb of God, may our lived faith point out what we have seen and heard about Jesus.
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