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2nd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
The notion that God actually calls us in diverse ways permeates Scripture. Whether
Hebrew or Christian stories, both affirm and confirm God’s initiative and interest in
drawing people from their busy-ness to follow God. As one theologian puts it, "We are
launched by grace into a calling of discipleship in which the operative word is
‘follow.’ " The first lesson and the gospel lesson both share this theme,
while the epistle lesson tackles the tougher issue of keeping on the path of discipleship
once we begin. Enjoy your calling (stories!).
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)-Speak, Lord! We’re Listening
In this narrative, God calls to young Samuel, though the boy initially mistakes the
voice for Eli the priest at Shiloh and his guardian. "Samuel! Samuel!" the voice
calls out. After several miscues, Eli the priest suspects that God is calling his charge
and instructs Samuel, "Go lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak,
lord, for your servant is listening.’ " Yet again, the Lord stands and calls to
Samuel and this time the boy knows what to do. "Speak, for your servant is
listening." Thus closes the ministry of Eli and begins the long and fruitful vocation
of Samuel the prophet of Israel.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20-But Not All Things Are Beneficial
With this passage we wander into a quagmire of morality issues among the Christian
community at Corinth that Paul names and pontificates about. At issue in our lesson is
some wrong-headed teaching regarding personal, moral freedom and the human body-all things
are lawful for me-the teaching goes. But Paul qualifies the statement saying . . . but not
all things are beneficial. Whether food, human sexuality, or anything, there needs to be
boundaries, Paul insists. While the principle is stated in verse 12, the application to
particular contexts follows in verses 13-19. Paul rounds out the teaching with his central
idea: "For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
John 1: (35-42); 43-51-Come and See
We have two intriguing stories in the gospel lesson about Jesus calling specific
disciples. The first story tells about how John, Andrew, and Simon happened to become
followers of Jesus. The second story parallels the first story as it adds Philip and
Nathanael to Jesus’ entourage. What connects these two stories together is the
phrase, "Come and See" which appears in both stories.
