Listen

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, January 14th, 2024:
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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1 Samuel
​3.3-10, 19

Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” Samuel ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Sorry! Wrong number.

Sometimes when the Lord calls, that’s my reply. Am I the only one?  

The Lord asks a lot of us. Actually, He asks EVERYTHING of us. And being human, often I don’t think I have it in me to give what He wants me to give. But I do. God gave me everything I need and, more importantly, He gave it to me to be used.  But like Samuel, I get confused. I hear the call of the world more loudly – all the things the world calls me to be and do. Not all bad things in and of themselves, but the Lord calls me to one thing: to love. And to serve in love. Sometimes I don’t hear Him. Or, more devastatingly, I don’t want to listen. But listening is half the battle. 

A few weeks ago, I read Pope Francis' Christmas address to his Curia – his “staff.” He spoke so strongly, and encouragingly, about the importance of listening. His emphasis: listen not just to hear, but to understand. I was particularly struck by these words…

“Sometimes, even when speaking among ourselves, we risk being like ravenous wolves: we can devour the other person’s words, without really listening to them, and then shape them to fit our own ideas and judgements. Really listening to another person, however, requires interior quiet and making room for silence between what we hear and what we say. It is not a game of ping-pong.”

I have never been good at verbal ping-pong. I would much rather ponder what people have said to me than engage in a quick rally of responses. Given the choice between listening or talking, my comfort zone is listening. But in recent months, I have not always listened well. I’ve caught myself not truly listening. I let myself get caught up in all the voices that seek my attention and then allow myself to be overwhelmed with the noise. Out of self-preservation, I stop truly listening and predetermine a response to the voices surrounding me. In my head, I try to anticipate the answer they are looking for from me and get myself ready to react when it’s “my turn.” 

When I’m in my head, then I am not listening – and that’s not fair to those who are speaking to me, nor to myself. The other is worthy of my response, not just my reaction. In order to respond well, I have to make the silent space to just listen as Pope Francis invites. Because in that space is also God’s voice, continually calling me to love. 

Ultimately, I know the Lord isn’t calling the  wrong number. Rather, His call is being redirected to my voicemail…which is just too full. As 2024 begins, I endeavour to delete the unnecessary messages and make more space to listen – truly listen – so that, like Samuel, I can readily respond: Speak Lord, Your servant is listening! 




​Aurea Sadi

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