I consider myself a good listener. I try to practice the kind of listening that goes beyond merely hearing to being an intentional, engaged attention-giving listener. But, when I think about my communication with Jesus, I am aware that my listening could be improved. I am similar to Samuel in Sunday's first reading--I rarely realize the Lord is speaking to me until after He has made repeated attempts to grab my attention. This reading reminds me that, like Samuel, it is helpful to have spiritual companions. Throughout my faith journey, spiritual companions have included priests and everyday Christians, formal spiritual directors and regular friends. Spiritual companions help me pay attention to what Jesus is saying in my prayer life. These trusted people hold me accountable, help me discern decisions, and model the habit of attentive listening. They help me enrich and deepen my friendship with Jesus. As we journey into the fresh start of a new year, consider inviting a spiritual companion into your life. Someone who can help open your heart, mind, and ears to receive Jesus' words to you. Perhaps like Samuel, we can all be led to enthusiastically announce: "speak Lord, your servant is listening." -- Linda
Reading 1: 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you, “ Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am, “ he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.