17 January 2021

The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19, NRSV

Today we hear the familiar story of the call by God of the boy Samuel. Samuel hears a voice calling his name, not once but several times. Each time, Samuel responds by dutifully going to his master Eli and saying “Here I Am.” It is Eli who realises that the voice Samuel is hearing is that of God and he advises Samuel what to say when he next hears his name being called. Eli tells Samuel to say, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Samuel follows the advice given by Eli. The rest, as they say, is history. Samuel grew into one of Israel’s greatest prophets and leaders; continually attentive to the voice of God. Samuel’s response to his call gives us some pointers about the ways in which God may call us. At the time of his calling, Samuel was not a person of any great significance to the world but God had a plan for him. In the same way, God calls each of us to use our unique gifts in the service of others. Samuel did not at first recognise God’s call and needed Eli’s guidance. Similarly for us, we may dismiss a “calling” as the product of our imaginations and we too may benefit from prayer and the advice of others.

• • Why does Eli advise Samuel to say that he is listening? 
  • What is your experience of God calling you – how were you able to discern God’s will?

Spend some time today in prayer – you might like to use Samuel’s words “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”