DISCERNING GOD’S VOICE IN THE WORLD TODAY. LESSONS FROM THE CALL OF SAMUEL IN THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL, 3: 3-19.

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 Samuel, from his birth, was consecrated to the Lord by his parents. However, Samuel needed to say “yes” to that act of consecration, that covenant his parents did with God.  Having been entrusted to the care of Eli, he spent his life in the temple of the Lord. He lived what Psalm 27: 4 says: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” While recognizing that this is a special vocation, we can still learn a lot from Samuel’s call.

The Lord called Samuel and he replied “Here I am.” He was able to hear the Voice but couldn’t recognize that It was God calling him. His experience makes us understand that in the matters of faith, experience is vital. Who among us can say that it is easy for him or her to recognize God’s voice, discern the spiritual meaning behind events, both personal and in the society today? Spiritual discernment often requires patience, humility,  guidance, and a willingness to listen carefully.

Another important message is creating condition favorable to listening and hearing the voice of God. God called Samuel during the night, when everywhere was calm. This teaches us that through silent meditation we learn to listen to God’s voice. The noise we are talking about here is not only external but also internal. This is one of the key challenges faced by Christians: being able to listen, discern what God is telling us; understanding the meaning of various events happening in the world today.

Eli played a key role in helping Samuel discern the voice of God and answer positively. Despite the fact that he was unable to educate well his two children, he finally recognized that it was the Lord calling Samuel. This brings us to what is called “Spiritual Accompaniment.  Unfortunately, many Christians are not able to get such help but also some do not even recognize the importance. We cannot discern alone God’s voice; even great saints like Padre Pio, had a Spiritual father.

Having been told how to respond, hearing the voice of God the third time, Samuel replies: “Speak for your servant is listening.” God was waiting for this “yes”.  Just like Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, who through her “yes” permitted God to do what was humanly impossible, Samuel gave God that permission. Our Free Will, our Liberty are very precious to God. The more we surrender to God’s will, allow God be central in our lives, the deeper we will grow in our spiritual life and understand the meaning of so many things happening in the world today.  Because God was with Samuel, everything he said had an impact.

Discerning to God’s voice, spiritual discernment, is not reducible to what happens between a spiritual father, or mother and the person accompanied. At the center of their relation there is the Holy Spirit. For Jesus said in John 16: 13 that “The Spirit will guide you to knowledge of the whole truth.” We live in a world where truth is fragmented; often opposed to each other. Moral relativism is gradually imposing itself everywhere. When the Holy Spirit is absent in the life of individual, we see confusion, division, hatred, evil of all kinds. In 1 Corinthians 6: 13-20, St Paul says that “We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.”  Holy Spirit is a spirit of communion, unity, love, harmony.  

In our world today, many are in search of direction, meaning, purpose. Unfortunately, not all look for solution in the right direction.

Our perception of people, realities is influenced by so many things such as the media our cultural and social background, personal experiences, education, psychological factors, etc. Christian life is about having an experiential knowledge of Jesus and leading others to having the same experience. Therefore, let us ask the Lord the grace to have a renewed experience of his Love, presence.


Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2024 at 12:38 AM

    Having experiential knowledge of Jesus and leading others to having their own experience is the mission of every Christian

    ReplyDelete

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