Ordinary Time

Pause

Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Isaiah 6:8a

If only it was this easy to hear God’s call and to answer it in our everyday lives.

Enter into this moment, quieting the din of your daily life, to rest in God’s embrace and listen anew.

Listen

Now the boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. The Lord’s word was rare at that time, and visions weren’t widely known. One day Eli, whose eyes had grown so weak he was unable to see, was lying down in his room. God’s lamp hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was lying down in the Lord’s temple, where God’s chest was.

The Lord called to Samuel. “I’m here,” he said.

Samuel hurried to Eli and said, “I’m here. You called me?”

“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go lie down.” So he did.

1 Samuel 3:1-5

Think

What was your first job? Or if you haven’t had one yet, what job sounds like a good fit for you? Maybe babysitting, mowing lawns, or some kind of internship.

This is a rough first job for Samuel. He has to even sleep at his work, every night! His boss, Eli, is worn out. Before this passage, Eli received a message from a man of God telling him that despite his faith, he’s not doing his job very well, and in particular he’s got to get his sons to shape up soon. In this passage, Samuel thinks that Eli is calling him in the middle of the night. Like any young intern he quickly responds to his boss’s request, only to have Eli tell him that it wasn’t him, and that Samuel should really just go lie down.

Like Samuel, I think we’re eager to feel useful but don’t always know how or when to really help. God had a lot of work ahead for Samuel, but it wasn’t quite what Samuel thought right then.

Molly Logan

Pray

Gracious and loving God, I’m here. Help me to learn how to hear how you might want me to be useful. But also help me to learn to listen when those who are wise tell me to rest and wait for your word. Amen.

Go

I said, “I’m here; send me.”

Isaiah 6:8b

May we go into our days celebrating that God knows us, loves us, and calls us to share that grace and care with all whom we encounter today.