Today Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches about the first reading from the Second Sunday of ordinary time, the account of Samuel’s vocation (1 Sam 3, 3-10, 19.)

We start with the back story of Hannah, who was childless. She went to Shiloh, to the temple. She prayed ardently. The priest there was Eli, who was pretty flaky, and he in turn had two sons who also became priests, and they were Hophni and Phinehas. They were corrupt, and immoral. In fact the book of Samuel itself says that they were “scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.” (1 Sam 2, 12) But Hannah gives birth to Samuel and eventually brings him to the temple where he is brought up by Eli.

Eventually Samuel is brought up in the temple. He is awoken several times by the Lord who calls out to him. But it took a while to engage. It had something to do with sleepiness. How can I hear your voice Lord, if I sit back?

Talk now to him, he is listening, and you too are listening. Give me greater light and understanding about myself, and how I am answering to your call. Engaging pro-actively not just in the work I have to do, the many things that need to be done: but the pro-active spirit of dialogue with you.

The exchange is beautiful it really reflects the kind of promptness that should be in our soul.

Here I am Lord. Your servant is listening.

Samuel alone would not have known how to act. He was kind of lost. But though Eli is not perfect, he has his flaws, he nevertheless serves as an instrument for Samuel to discover his divine task.

Back 40 years ago, in 1981 the movie Chariots of Fire won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Great music by Vangelis. Amazing opening scenes of these British runners running on the beach… One of the film’s cornerstones is the importance of faith and prayer, discerning what God really wants. Eric Liddell is in the church of Scotland. He says that faith can be “compared to running in a race. It’s hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul,” especially when trying to live it with naturalness in one’s daily life. When facing the difficult choice between training for the Olympics or abandoning everything for the missions which his parents insisted on, Liddell tells his sister, “Jenny, I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Music opening and closing: Adrian Berenguer, Fall, Album Singularity (2017)

Middle clips: Vangelis - Chariots of Fire - Theme Song, from Internet archive: https://archive.org/details/tvtunes_21754