Readings

1 Samuel 3.1–10, 19–20 – Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and 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!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he 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. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

Mark 1.29–39 – As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Reflection

In both of our readings today, we encounter a God who speaks — and a people who are learning how to listen.

In the passage from 1 Samuel, we meet the boy Samuel in the temple at Shiloh. It is a quiet, almost fragile moment. We are told that “the word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.” Israel is not in a time of great spiritual confidence. The priest Eli is old, his sons have brought the priesthood into disrepute, and the people’s faith feels tired and uncertain.

And yet it is precisely in that setting that God chooses to speak — not to a king, not to a prophet, but to a child. Samuel hears his name called in the night, and like any child he assumes it must be Eli. It takes time, patience, and guidance for Samuel to recognise the voice of God. Only when Eli helps him does Samuel learn the posture of listening faith: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

That simple sentence lies at the heart of discipleship. God’s call is not always loud or dramatic. It often comes quietly, persistently, sometimes inconveniently — and we may mistake it at first for something else. Samuel’s story reassures us that misunderstanding does not disqualify us. God continues to call, and God provides guides — mentors, teachers, companions in faith — who help us learn to listen.

Turning to the Gospel, Mark presents a very different scene, full of energy and movement. Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, and suddenly the whole town gathers at the door. Needs press in from every side: sickness, suffering, desperate hope. Jesus responds with compassion and authority. He heals many and drives out demons. It would be easy to imagine that this is exactly what Jesus should keep doing — staying where he is needed, where he is successful, where people are grateful.

But then, in the early morning, while it is still dark, Jesus goes to a deserted place to pray. Like Samuel in the night, Jesus seeks the quiet place of listening. When the disciples find him and urge him to return — “Everyone is searching for you” — Jesus responds not by giving in to demand, but by naming his calling: “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”

Here, too, we see the pattern of listening leading to obedience. Jesus’ prayer shapes his priorities. Even good and urgent demands must be held alongside attentiveness to God’s purpose.

Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own attentiveness to God. In a world that is noisy, busy, and full of competing voices, when do we make space to listen? Are we open to God speaking in unexpected ways — through scripture, through prayer, through the needs of others, or through a quiet nudge of the Spirit?

They also challenge us to consider what listening leads to. For Samuel, it meant growing into a life of faithful service, becoming a trustworthy prophet among the people. For Jesus, it meant continuing his mission beyond comfort and familiarity.

For us, listening to God may not lead to dramatic moments, but it may shape the small, faithful decisions of daily life: where we offer our time, how we respond to need, when we choose prayer over busyness, and how we say, again and again, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” May God grant us the grace to hear his voice, to discern his call, and to follow where he leads.

Amen.