Conception Abbey

Last Sunday, January 15, the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, WE had some beautiful readings at our Eucharistic celebration, with the theme seeming to be "The Call" from God. Recall that the first reading was from I Samuel, chapter 3. Samuel had been taken by his parents at a very young age to serve in the temple. He was serving the priest Eli. At night while Samuel was sleeping in the temple, not far from Eli, he heard a voice call his name. Thinking Eli had called for him he jumped out of bed and went to Eli and said: "Here I am. You called me." Eli responded that he did not call him and told him to go back to bed. This happened three times and then Eli realized that it must be God calling the youth so he told him: "God back to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." And then the Lord did call Samuel again and Samuel replied: "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Then in the Gospel, we heard John the Baptist say to two of his disciples: "Behold the Lamb of God.," as he watched Jesus walk by. The two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned around and saw them and said to them: "What are you looking for?" They replied that they wanted to see where he was staying. Jesus simply replies, "Come, and you will see."

There is so much in these readings for us to reflect on and meditate on--especially so much for us to put into practice in our own lives. It is so much about listening. How do we know if we are doing what the Lord wants of us? I think we can say by listening. We listen to the Word of God in the scriptures, we listen to homilies, we listen to others who are part of our lives, and we listen as we see the beauty in nature. It is only by listening that we can then put into practice what we hear the Lord telling us.

Would it not be a wonderful thing for each of us each morning as we awake and crawl out of bed to say those words that Eli taught Samuel: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Or perhaps better: "Speak Lord to me today and help me to always be open to listening to your voice." So often we close our minds, not only to other people, but even to God. We hear the Word of God, but it passes away almost immediately.

This next weekend we observe the anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision to allow abortion in our country. Can we not pray that everyone will be open to listen to God? God wants us to respect all life from conception in the womb to natural death. God made all human beings in his own image. Is there not an obligation for us to respect and reverence that life? But, obedience to God and his laws can only come if we first listen. We need to take God’s word into our hearts and, if we do that, there is little doubt in my mind that we will also put it into action in our lives. Obedience follows from listening. So let us as oblates, pray this coming week (and hopefully everyday) for a true respect for life. At the same time we need to pray for healing for those who have had an abortion and perhaps are now suffering because of that.

God bless you all and remember those words: SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING.