Sunday, January 17, 2021

Yes to His Call


The WORD reminds me that I should be ready and say yes when God calls. 

A lot of people do not always say yes. We analyze first, we examine and we think about it. That is our reaction even when one calls us. 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. This 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 said yes and went to his master when called. It was God who called him, but he did not know God yet so he went 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 said yes to God, he grew in faith, filled with God's guidance and wisdom. 

In the gospel we see Jesus calling Andrew and another disciple to come and follow Him. When they were called, they immediately said yes and left everything to follow Jesus.  These stories  is a  reminder that God is calling us too. 

God calls us in different ways, and he never tires of calling us

Saying yes  should be our reaction when God calls us. We should not give excuses. We should not delay. We should respond and say yes to him. And eventually we will see that we will be blessed. 

Nowadays, it is very easy to ignore God’s voice. We are so busy with a lot of things. We have a lot of concerns. Life has become complicated. Sometimes there is no space for God in our everyday life. Good thing God is very persuasive and creative, and will not stop until we recognize and hear his call. However, he will not force us to say yes, to acknowledge him and to obey him. He will just call us persistently until we find it in our hearts to respond with our yes.

In what ways does God call me? Am I sensitive to his call? Do I always say yes to him? Or do i give excuses? What is he reminding me today?

As we start the year, may we be inspired by Samuel and echo his words - Lord here I am, I come to do your will. 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 Sunday.  Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. And thank you for another opportunity for you to call me and for me to hear your call. Lord, I pray that I become sensitive to you. May I never be too busy to miss your call. May I recognize your soft voice calling to me. And I pray that you give me the desire to always say yes when you call me. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-

January 17, 2021
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time; St. Anthony of Egypt

FIRST READING

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.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. 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. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. 

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. 

Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts 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.


SECOND READING

Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. 

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.


ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


GOSPEL

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi”—which translated means Teacher—, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” —which is translated Christ—. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas”—which is translated Peter.


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