2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
[__01__] Is it good news to be the eldest, the
earliest, the first to arrive?
[Is it good news to be the eldest, the earliest, the first
to arrive?]
Certainly,
in the community of a family – amongst our brothers and sisters – there may be
debate [discussion] about the advantages or disadvantages of one’s order
in the line of children, one’s birth
order.
Is it
good news to be the eldest, the
youngest, somewhere in between?
Sometimes,
the elder or eldest child gains certain advantages. Parents, you yourselves, will also think (or
talk) privately about how your methods – or discipline – might change as new
children are born – or grow up.
[Is it good news to be the eldest, the earliest, the first
to arrive?]
[__02__] In the marketplace, in business, on Wall
Street, don’t investors and inventors try for success by virtue of their timing, their
early arrival, and their advancement of a device or machine …FIRST.
And, on
the basketball court or football field, it’s never a bad idea to score a few
touchdowns or baskets before the other team does, to gain the early lead and
advantage.
[It CAN BE good news to be the eldest, the
earliest, the first to arrive … in a competition or competitive endeavor.]
[__03__] In the first book of Samuel, our first
reading this Sunday, we read about the ELDEST, the EARLIEST, the first to
arrive among the prophets of Israel.
In the
Promised Land, the Holy Land, Samuel was the first of many prophets. And, he
was also the prophet chosen to anoint the first 2 kings of Israel.
[Being the first and the eldest… Samuel was well
connected; and also had a big responsibility to King Saul and King David – the
first 2 kings of Israel and to his people.]
[__04__] It’s a burden being the eldest and the
earliest … prophet.
For
those of you who are the eldest child in the family … or perhaps the only child
in the family, this is also a big responsibility. Our parents may expect us, at
times, to be more patient… while they spend time with our younger siblings…or
they expect us to remember what they have told us many times before.
We are
expected to remember because we heard it first.
This is
a challenge.
Yes,
there is also a great opportunity to learn and to grow closer to our parents
through this process.
It does
not mean that the eldest are automatically FAVORED by their parents … but that,
for the eldest, something more is expected.
Could
we, perhaps, say that Samuel was similar to the eldest child of whom more was
expected?
He was
called as a prophet, but he presume that the voice he hears is coming from the
next room, from the priest of the Temple, Eli.
So, on
2 occasions, hearing the voice, Samuel goes to Eli … saying… “did you call?” …
“was there a [dropped] call here?“ … “do
we have a bad connection?”
But, it
is through this questioning that Samuel discovers this special intimacy with
God.
So..first,
Samuel had to identify his “caller” … he needed some spiritual caller ID before
he could proceed. And, there was no elder sibling … or elder prophet to explain
it to him.
And, as
the “eldest” or earliest in the family, we may – at times – have to proceed
courageously … to ask a few questions before we find out what is expected..and
who is calling us.
[__05__] [Is it good news to be the eldest, the earliest, the first
to arrive?]
Yes, it
was good news for Samuel. He learns to listen and discern God’s ways.
And,
isn’t it the responsibility of all of us as parents, as teachers, as deacons or
sisters or parish priests, as guardians of younger people, to listen for God’s
voice.
That
is, if you and I were FIRST or EARLIEST, we would not have carte blanche / permission to do whatever we want. Some restraint
is necessary
[__06__]
This restraint – this patience –
was also part of the prophet Samuel’s sermon and his dialogue with the people
of Israel.
As
their spiritual leader, they clamored, petitioned, begged him – had a
referendum – and decided that Samuel as prophet would be the one to change
their society and government.
That
is, they desired that Samuel would anoint for them a king, a royal leader. The
mood of the people – in that election cycle – was that a king would make the
nation strong, would fight battles for them.
Eventually,
Samuel gave in to their demands anointed King Saul. However, Samuel cautioned
them about a monarchy, about the danger of tyranny, all of which later come
true under the rule of King Saul and other kings.
King
Saul had a few good early years, a few good seasons..but he was not a Hall of Fame
candidate.
Saul –
was the “eldest” among the kings…but also did not listen to God’s voice.
[It’s difficult to be the eldest, the earliest, the first
to arrive?]
[__07__]
Samuel, as the first prophet, resembles the earliest disciples of our
Lord and Savior.
They
are also the eldest, the earliest, the first to arrive.
And, in
this Gospel reading, we are introduced especially to John the Baptist and to
Andrew and his brother Peter.
Yes,
Peter and the others are the first to flee – escape – after our Savior’s
betrayal and arrest. However, they were
also the first to meet Jesus the Risen Lord. Jesus sought them out first after
the Resurrection.
They
shared an intimacy, a connection with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. As his earliest disciples, they were also
held to a higher standard. More was expected of them.
[__08__]
Peter is the first to proclaim Jesus as Messiah, as the Savior who had
come into the world.
Peter,
however, had an attitude similar to the
population of citizens by whom Samuel was speaking. This population wanted a
king through whom they believed the country would have greater wealthy, higher
status, and fewer problems.
Peter
had a similar understanding of Jesus as Messiah, and rejected the idea that the
Messiah would have to suffer and die.
Then
again St. Peter …it’s difficult to be the eldest, the earliest, the first to
arrive.
[__09__] When we are faced with a challenge, a
sorrow, a difficulty, we can be edified / strengthened by the example of
Samuel, and by Peter and Andrew who are eager to learn more.
Peter
and Andrew ask, “where do you
live?” (John 1:38)
[__10__] In our own prayer and discernment, we might
also ask not only what we are to do, but also to ask for some guidance and and
some peace about the destination, the next step especially the new location.
Where
is God leading us?
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