The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to contemplate the role of listening to prompts from the Spirit and our call to be healers in our environment.
The reading from the First Book of Samuel describes his Calling and Prophetic Activity.
* [3:2–18] The call of Samuel: This section may be divided as follows: 1. the triple summons (vv. 2–9); 2. God’s revelation (vv. 10–14); 3. Samuel informs Eli (vv. 15–18). (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 40 offers Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17). (Psalms, PSALM 40, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals many at Simon’s House.
* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story. (Mark, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that the Evil demons do not, at first, want humans to do bad things, but rather do nothing good, because of not being able to enter into further creational lives. Little-by-little, inch-by-spiritual inch, we can be convinced of a do-nothing bad, but nothing good either. Those Spirits of “Counter-Creation” are speaking to Jesus, fearing that they have lost their power to de-create this possessed fellow.
Any good work, idea, desire is available for the Evil Spirit to quietly suggest that each of us does not have, is not, quite good enough for the creational movement. The gooder an inspiration, desire, activity is, the more we will be available to the uncreative, put-it-in park for a while until the good desire is not so desirable. The couch or Lazy Boy chair are very attracktive places to un-consider our adventuring into His power, His authority, His Spirit.
One can become accustomed to winning the “War Within” by listening to the Distroyer and sending it back to hell and then just doing something simply Good. Now back to my Lazy-Boy prayer-chair to soul-sense what the Evil One might induce me not to do today. I want to do the good, but I know the Subtle-Sneeker will be around to suggest other possibilities. (Gillick, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “The habit of prayer,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Jesus prayed and did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray? Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer, saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:29-39 urges us to keep on praying, even as we are waiting and trusting in him. He can give us insight and guidance for the intention we have brought before him.
Praying may seem to be the least we can do. But it’s also the most we can do. And there’s no limit to what God can do! Each need that arises gives us a chance to practice going to the Lord first. So let’s resolve to involve him sooner rather than later and to seek his help every step of the way.
“Jesus, I know you care about me and my loved ones. Help me turn to you first.” (Meditation on Mark 1:29-39, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Eli realizes that Samuel is being called by the Lord. There is a contrast between Samuel who received the Spirit and the evil intent of Eli’s son. Friar Jude notes Jesus' action to heal, his time to pray, and the beginning of His Mission to other towns.
Brian McLaren traces how he and Father Richard have been on similar journeys, charting a path for a Christian faith that is engaged with the world’s needs.
I think this parallel struggle, in Catholicism and in Protestantism, in Buddhism and Christianity, is the struggle to have a faith that isn’t an evacuation plan or an escape into private bliss, but a way of seeking to have a spiritual transformation in our own lives that will express itself in change and transformation in our world. We’re on a quest to find out how to have an engaged expression of deep spiritual life that makes a difference in a world on fire. [1] (McLaren, 2024)
We seek the inspiration of the Spirit to understand and experience the people and events through which the Lord is communicating with us about our mission.
References
Gillick, L. (2024, January 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011024.html
Mark, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?29
McLaren, B. D. (2024, January 10). Engaged Christianity — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/engaged-christianity/
Meditation on Mark 1:29-39. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/10/873184/
1 Samuel, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/3?1
Psalms, PSALM 40. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan10
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