Epiphany 2 “God Is Calling”
“God Is Calling”
Reflection for Second Sunday of Epiphany January 14, 2024 For Churchill and Gilford Pastoral Charge
By Krista Moore
Scriptures:
1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20) God calls Samuel
John 1:43–51 Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael
Scripture Summary: God calls Samuel as a young boy who will be greater than his guardian priest Eli, and Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael ordinary men who become loyal disciples of Christ.
Children’s Time: God Calls a Little Boy Samuel – importance of children. God calls the young as well as the old. God was angry with Eli the priest, but Samuel the boy became a prophet. You are important!
Introduction to the Scriptures
Today we hear the story of Samuel, an important judge and prophet in the Bible who is dedicated to God at a young age. Samuel anoints the first Israelite King, Saul. When Saul fails, Samuel anoints a small shepherd boy, David, who becomes the greatest King that ever lived, King David, the forefather of Christ.
But first, let’s hear how Samuel came to be, from his mother, Hannah:
I am so blessed! I was praying to the LORD in the temple, and I was a in anguish, a barren woman, a disgrace! Then I cried out to the LORD and the LORD heard my prayers! And now I have born a son and named him Samuel. We dedicated him to the LORD and left him at the temple under the priest Eli. He will serve the LORD forever.
Oh, I am so blessed! My son will be a great and holy man. He will bring justice and peace to this cruel and disobedient generation. GOD has fulfilled his promise to me, and I will sing praises to the LORD forever!
Jesus is also ready to be revealed to the world as the Messiah. John the Baptist was baptizing by the river Jordan and declared his cousin Jesus the Lamb of God. Now two of John’s disciples jump up and leave to follow Jesus. Soon after, Jesus decides to go to Galilee to call Philip who goes to get his friend Nathanael. Jesus then speaks to Nathanael. But Nathanael is uncertain:
I was sitting under this fig tree lost in thought. Then Philip brought this strange man from Nazareth who told me things he couldn’t know. It was so strange. I have never met anyone like him. He must be the Son of God! But… Why would he call me? I never amounted to anything.
REFLECTION
Last week we talked about the generations, and how the young people are just as valuable to God. How God came to us as a little child Jesus; and how the magi travelled hundreds of miles, to honour a helpless little baby, not the powerful King Herod.
THESIS: God often calls the lowly, the outsider, the young, the vulnerable, the stranger.
STORY: GOD SPEAKS THROUGH MY SON
When my son was only two years old, we were driving in the car. He was sitting in the back in his car seat. As I was pulling up to our house to park the car, he suddenly started talking very thoughtfully. He said,“Mommy.”
“Yes?”
“God is love.” He began…
My eyebrows raised and he kept talking about how God loves us. I fumbled for a pen to write down what he was saying, I was so flabbergasted. That notebook still exists somewhere.
In 2001 after the world trade centre fell, and I lost a co-worker at work, and Steve’s mother died, we were going through a hard time. We had a dream to have another child.
One day I was walking my son to school with the dogs, and he suddenly blurted out.
“Mommy’s going to have a baby!”
I didn’t even know that was true, but it was. I found out soon after that I was indeed pregnant.
I was beyond amazed.
My point is, God works through the young as much as the old. God can call anyone God wants to.
About seven years later I was at home going through some challenges regarding my career path, and again my son again came to me. This time he calmly got out a piece of paper and began to draw a graph.
He placed on the graph several dots going down and then up and drew a line connecting them.
Then he explained,
“Mommy…”
“Yes.”
“See this dot here?”
He pointed to the dot on the lowest point.
“This is you.”
My eyebrows raised.
Then he moved his hand over to the dot on the highest point and said,
“But someday you will be over here.”
I was flabbergasted.
How could he know that? I got goosebumps.
It was like he was tuned in and knew just what to say.
It was humbling to have a child that could read my soul, know the truth, or describe who God is.
These are just a few examples of how God worked through my children to reach me and point the way.
God can call whomever God wants to. A little boy like Samuel, a barren woman who wanted to be a mother, like Hannah. God can call anyone that is willing and open to receive it.
God called me too.
But it wasn’t all smooth and easy.
It was bumpy like the chart my son made. He knew my road would not be easy, but his message encouraged me that I would get there someday. And I believe that day finally came.
SCRIPTURES: HANNAH & SAMUEL
Hannah must have felt like that. Discouraged. Uncertain. She was a barren woman. In her society, a married woman is only valuable if she bears a son to carry on the name. Her husband had another wife who had several sons. Hannah must have felt worthless.
She cried to God because she knew in her heart that she was destined to have a son. She was so determined that she promised God, if he gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God and make him a Nazarite – that’s a person who does not drink alcohol, eats pure food, and does not cut their hair.
They serve only God.
Samuel was the answer to her prayer. She left him in the temple after he was weaned – around 3 years, and he was raised by the priest Eli. Eli had sons, but his sons did evil and displeased God.
Samuel grew in wisdom and became the prophet Samuel who anointed kings and judged rulers. A little boy became someone all of Israel listened to.
GOD CALLS WOMEN: MARY & HANNAH
It kind of reminds us of Mary. She too was a young woman who was not even yet married when she became pregnant with Jesus. It must have been quite a scandal. But God called her and told her she was blessed. To not be afraid. And she bore the Messiah, Jesus.
Both women bear sons who become great. They both sing songs of praise to God, the song of Hannah, and Mary’s Song, The Magnificat.
God can use anyone God wants to.
STORY: SON
When my son told me these insightful things it made me very proud of him. It also shocked me. It was like God was speaking through him directly into my soul. God definitely got my attention! And my life changed drastically until one day I too was serving God. God sees us when we feel weak, God knows what we need. God calls us out of our misery and knows how to make us strong. How to show us the right way to go.
SCRIPTURE: NATHANAEL & PHILIP
Like the disciple Nathanael who was sitting under a fig tree. Maybe he was in a desperate place, unemployed, worried about the future. Maybe he was praying to God for the next steps. Then his friend Philip comes along with this strange man Jesus from a nothing little town called Nazareth – yes Jesus, the Messiah came from Nazareth. And he says things he couldn’t possibly know. How could Jesus do that? He must be the Son of God!
Jesus saw into his soul.
It was a life-changing moment.
Nathanael must have been overwhelmed and thought why me? There’s nothing special about me?
Phillip and Nathanael are just ordinary men.
But Jesus sees so much more. Jesus called simple men who were ready and willing to listen.
Jesus calls to them and says, follow me. And they go.
God can use anyone God wants to.
Ordinary young men looking for work.
A man sitting under a fig tree.
Jesus must have smiled. He knew just what to say to prove it was God calling. And their lives were never the same.
HOW THIS RELATES TO US
God can use us too. God calls each of us in a unique way. We don’t all get to be important prophets. But God uses each of us, and Jesus asks us to follow him. Maybe it’s caring for loved ones, being a teacher, or helping family or friends, working in a hospital, or doing volunteer work. God calls ordinary people to do amazing things.
SOMETIMES WE DON’T GET THE MESSAGE RIGHT AWAY
We can all receive a calling from God.
But sometimes we don’t get the message.
God called Samuel three times before Samuel responded. Samuel thought it was Eli the priest calling him in the night. Finally Eli told him to go back and lay down and next time he heard “Samuel, Samuel!” respond and tell the Lord to speak to his servant.
We don’t always get the signals right away.
Sometimes it takes time.
We may need someone else to point it out for us.
Sometimes we are witnesses for each other.
Like Philip for Nathanael.
Like my son was for me. It took me almost 30 years to “get it,” but God is patient. God will reach us somehow.
God can use a child. God can use a barren woman, or a virgin not yet married like Mary, or an unemployed man sitting under a tree. God can use you and me.
CLOSING
So how can we be more open to hearing God calling us? How do we know if it’s God or just our imagination? Or wishful thinking?
Krista’s Three Things –
1. God often interrupts our plans, or our negative thoughts. It often comes as a shock. Think of Hannah – she was desolate and barren. Then she prayed and gave birth to a son. Nathanael was idol under a tree, then he meets the Son of God, the Messiah. Our lives are never the same after the call. It turns our lives upside down in a good way.
2. God may reach us in unexpected ways. Be open to the signs. It may come through a little child, a friend, a parent, a book we’re reading, a stranger. The internet. God can use anything. Even an animal!
3. It’s never too early or too late to talk to God. Samuel missed his cue three times. Finally he responded. And he became a great prophet. Don’t worry if you think you missed your chance. God’s call does not expire. God can reach you wherever you are, even if you’re lost in thought sitting under a fig tree. Or washing the laundry!
FINAL MEDITATION
Let’s take a moment and think about when God may have been trying to get our attention. Have you ever heard God calling?
Maybe it was through an event that happened, or a family member, a child, a book, a sudden change in your life’s direction… A feeling or knowing… A dream, or vision of the future… How did it feel?…
Did you respond to that call or feeling?…
What might God be calling you to do or become today?…
What would you say to God or Jesus if you could have a direct conversation like Nathanael? (You can)…
What do you think God or Jesus would say back to you?…
Now come back whenever you’re ready.
Let us be open when we hear God is calling.
Like Hannah and Mary who sing with gratitude.
Or Nathanael with amazement, even if we are uncertain or hesitate. Let us respond like Samuel the little boy who says to God, “Here I am, Lord,” ready to be your humble servant.
Amen.