HEARING AND RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD.

Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Readings: 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1:35-42

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord last Monday brought to an end the Christmas season and ushered us into another season, the Ordinary Time of the Church’s year. The Ordinary Time has two parts. The first part begins after the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and ends on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday while the second part begins after the Solemnity of the Pentecost and ends on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. While the other liturgical seasons celebrate special mysteries of our faith, the Ordinary Time is simply a time for spiritual growth, reflection, and living out the mysteries of the Christian faith that were celebrated in the other liturgical seasons, in the routine and “ordinary” aspects of life.

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the theme of hearing and responding to the call of God. In the first reading for instance, we encounter the young Samuel, lying in the temple of the Lord. As he hears a voice calling his name, he mistakenly believes it is the elderly priest Eli. After a few attempts, Eli realizes that it is the Lord calling Samuel. Eli instructs Samuel on how to respond, saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” This simple yet powerful response becomes the key to Samuel’s vocation as a prophet.

Likewise, in the Gospel reading, we witness the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Lamb of God, and two disciples, Andrew and another, decide to follow Jesus. When Jesus asks them, “What are you looking for?” they respond, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” And Jesus says to them, “Come and see.” This invitation marks the beginning of their life-changing journey with Jesus (John 1:35-42).

In our own lives, God continues to call each one of us. Just as Samuel and the disciples responded to their calls, we are also invited to open our hearts and ears to the voice of God. The question becomes, are we willing to listen? Are we attentive to the ways in which God is calling us in the midst of the busyness of our daily lives? Sometimes, the call may come in unexpected ways and through unexpected people. It might be a gentle whisper in the silence of prayer, a prompting of conscience, or a call to service from someone in need. God’s invitation may come through the events of our lives, the people we encounter, or the challenges we face.

Responding to God’s call is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. It requires us to be attentive, to listen with the ears of our hearts. It involves a willingness to embrace the unexpected and to recognize the sacred in the ordinary. Just as Samuel’s response opened a door to prophethood and the disciples’ response led to a life with Jesus, our willingness to listen and follow shapes our own unique path of transformation.

Lastly, the psalmist today sings, “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” This should be our response as well to the call of God. As we journey through this Ordinary Time, let us be open to God’s call in the ordinary moments of our lives. Let us cultivate a spirit of attentiveness, listening for the voice of God in the silence of our hearts. May we be open to God’s call in our lives, and may our response be one of trust, surrender, and a willingness to follow wherever the Lord leads us.