Here I Am

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011316.cfm) challenges me to be ready when God calls.  

A lot of people do not always say yes. We analyze first, we examine and we think about it. When it comes to God's call to us - whether to serve or follow Him, we also do the same things before we say yes. And sometimes, we say no. We give a lot of reasons and excuses to justify our not saying yes to Him. Which should not be the case.

We should always be ready to say yes to God.

In the first reading, we see a ready servant. Samuel always says yes and goes to his master when called. It was God calling him, but he does not know God yet so he goes to his master instead. And when he was told it was God calling him, he did not get afraid. Instead, he continued to answer yes. And because of that, because he always says yes to God, he grew in faith, filled with God's guidance and wisdom.

As we start the year, may we be inspired by Samuel. May we always say yes to God. May we always be ready to respond positively to him. And allow him to fill us and remain in us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love you. Thank you for all the blessings. And thank you for all the opportunities you give me to serve you. I know it is a privilege serving you, and I am sorry for not always saying yes. Sorry for giving a lot of excuses not to serve you. Help me have the attitude of Samuel that is always ready and willing to respond and say yes to you. I know as I do, I will be more and more like you. Amen.

Blessed day! 

In Christ,

-g-

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January 13, 2016

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 307

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20

 

During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and 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 Eli 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.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

 

R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Alleluia Jn 10:27

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 1:29-39

 

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.