Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B 14th January 2024
Lectionary Readings:
1 Samuel 3 v1-20. The Lord speaks to Samuel.
Psalm 139 V1-6, 13-18. The Lord is always near.
1 Corinthians 6 v12-20. Honour God with your body.
John 1 v 43-51. Jesus chooses Philip and Nathanael.
‘The Nearness of You’ A line from a popular ballad or a statement about God?
All the lectionary readings this week suggest that our God is not a distant and disinterested ‘god’ such as those worshipped by non-Jewish people in Biblical times.
Throughout the Old Testament period, God speaks to Patriarchs, Judges, Prophets, Priests, Kings and ordinary mortals; some directly, some via angels, and some via his prophets.
God enters into covenants with his people, pledging his love to us. A love that does not negate our free will. A love that invites us to work with him in bringing justice and mercy to bring about the healing of relationships between individuals, and within families, communities and nations.
(What does God require of us? Micah 6 v8).
God calls Samuel by name and Samuel responds by asking “What do you want me to do? (v10).
How would you respond if God called you by name?
The Psalmist reflects on God who knows each of us intimately.
“You have looked deep into my heart Lord and you know all about me.” (v1)
“You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.” (v3)
“Nothing about me is hidden from you!” (v15)
“And when I awake I will find you nearby.” (v18b).
What difference does the knowledge that God knows all about you make to your day-to-day life?
Paul, talks again of God’s spirit dwelling within us. “You know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God” (v19).
Paul argues that if we acknowledge that God is so very close to us, how can we act as if God doesn’t exist?
John recalls Jesus choosing his first disciples, Andrew and Simon Peter, then Philip and Nathanael.
‘Philip then found Nathanael and said “We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael asked “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip answered “Come and see.” (v 45,46).
How would you react if your friend said that he/she had found the Messiah?
Would you accept the invitation to “Come and see,” out of love for your friend, for God, or just plain curiosity? I doubt whether God minds too much, He simply delights in the nearness of you!
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.