REFLECTION FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (]YEAR B) with PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

REFLECTION FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY

 IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR (B) – January 14, 2018

PIUSRALH EFFIONG, SMMM              piusralphe@gmail.com        +2348 0668 90324

Today’s Reading:

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-103
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42

Theme: RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL

In today’s liturgy of the word, we are being invited by the Holy Mother Church to reflect on various ways in which God has called us. The three readings revolve around invitation to sacred duties. The call to vocation, profession and all spheres of life. The first reading presents before us three points: first, it is good to persevere. We can see this perseverance in the life of Samuel, he occasionally missed God’s voice as well but keeps on listening, Secondly, “patient” God was very patient with Samuel, even when he didn’t catch on immediately. The Lord is patient with us too. He keeps sending messages our way, even though he knows we will likely miss some of them amidst the challenges and trials of this life. The last point may sound funny. You and I may probably be hearing from the Lord already, but not realizing or recognizing the voice yet. It is this same call that God made to us through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Church in Corinth reminding us of the beauty of creation, and the price Christ paid to redeem us from the shackle of sin and total damnation. Stressing that we are the temple where God dwells and as such we need to live not as pagans but true disciples of Christ.

These points serve as a compass to the gospel pericope which forms part of the call to discipleship by Jesus. The dramatic episode of the today’s gospel reading underscores importance or readiness in responding to God’s call. Jesus posed the subtle question to his would-be disciples “What do you want?” – his very first words in the Gospel of John. And they answered, “Rabbi, where do you live?” The story continues to its climax with Andrew meeting his brother Simon and told him that they had seen the long awaited Messiah. This same question is what Christ often ask us each time we converse with him “What do we want?” In certainty, we will all respond: we want comfort, peace, wealth and so on, except few (if any) will request for true discipleship. The response of Samuel in the first reading “speak, Lord, your servant is listening” should be our watch word in our daily living. Docility and attentiveness are required of us. Though we are confronted with some noisy challenges generated by media, auto-mobiles, individuals and even ourselves. Amidst this, we need a bit of solitude in our lives so as to create a conducive environment for God to speak to us. 

Finally, let us be reminded that God doesn’t’ usually speak to us with an audible voice. Rather, he often chooses natural means, including people around us, our consciences, and our imaginations. Sometimes our thoughts and feelings. No matter what you experience, be still and know that He is God. PEACE BE WITH YOU!