Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The First Book of Samuel is the source of the first reading for Mass this weekend. Originally, First and Second Samuel were one volume. At some point in history, an editor divided them into the two volumes, so two volumes appear in Bible translations today.
As the title of these books implies, the central figure is Samuel, a prophet active several centuries before Christ.
Prophets were highly revered throughout the history of the chosen people. They were seen as God’s special representatives, but also personally holy and devoted to God. At times, prophets resisted their calling initially. Such was the case of the great prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. After all was said and done, though, they submitted themselves to God’s will and accepted the call to be prophets.
These figures were admired because the call to be a prophet was seen precisely as a vocation, a call from God.
In this weekend’s reading, God calls Samuel. This occurs according to God’s plan. Samuel at first did not recognize God’s voice, but later did through the guidance of the priest Eli.
St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians supplies the second reading for this weekend. Many of the Pauline writings have their luster in their clear revelation of the bond between true believers and Jesus, the Son of God who is also fully human in a mystery called the incarnation.
Truly committed Christians in faith and baptism are inseparably bound to Jesus, both in a shared human nature, but also in the divine life given believers by Christ in the sacrament.
This supernatural bond, the very keystone of personal salvation, requires Christians not only to be of spiritual faithfulness, but bodily faithfulness as well. They must not allow themselves to fall into carnal sin. The grace that comes to them through baptism and the other sacraments is essential to fulfilling this goal.
Instructing the Christian Corinthians in this fact seems for some to be excessive for Paul. However, it should be remembered, Corinth was known near and far as a virtual capital of lewdness and vice.
St. John’s Gospel furnishes the last reading. It is a story about the decision to follow Jesus by Simon, later known as Peter, and Simon’s brother, Andrew. In the story, Jesus intrigues Andrew and Simon. They follow Jesus and he invites them to be Apostles.
They recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus calls Peter to a new life, even giving him a new name, Cephas, often translated as Peter.
Reflection
The Church, in the majesty and glory of its liturgy, in a profound gaze into the reality of Jesus born in Bethlehem recorded for us in the Gospels, called us all to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.
On Christmas, the Church revealed to us that Jesus is the son of Mary, therefore a human, as she was only human (despite her unique holiness and singular place in the divine plan of redemption).
Two weeks later, it celebrated for us the feast of the Epiphany, revealing then to us the fact that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, was divine, the Son of God, and that redemption is God’s gift for all people.
So, these past weeks have been times in which the Church, with the greatest joy and hope, has told us about the Lord. He is the Savior of the world!
Now, the Church asks us in the readings this weekend to consider how personally we shall respond to these marvelous realities. By the mere fact we are of the Church, or at least interested in God, we are being touched by God’s grace. God calls us. He offers us eternal life in Christ.
How should we respond? St. Paul gives very concrete advice. Samuel, Peter and Andrew are examples. We must accept Christ as the only way to fulfillment and peace. †