Epiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 12, 2015
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. — 1 Samuel 3:1-5
Whether we read this scripture literally or metaphorically, it is ominous in nature. In the second chapter of 1 Samuel we read of an oracle confronting Eli about his work and more particularly the lack of commitment of his sons. God was going to pass the torch to someone else who would be God’s prophet for the people that someone was Samuel. The first verse begs the question: was the word of the Lord rare or were people not listening for it? Apparently the priestly functions were continuing as hollow acts of habit. Samuel, no doubt by Eli’s instruction, was tending the lamp of God even before he knew who God was. The lamp was to remain lit until the sun rose. On this morning a new and different dawn was coming. God will not let God’s people go without God’s light.
The birth and dedication of Samuel to God is mirrored in the birth of Jesus, another chosen one conceived to spread even a greater light into the darkness that was overcoming the world. Similar challenges faced Samuel and then Jesus and they still face us today. We humans, children of God though we are, do not handle prosperity well. We have a long, long history of begging for God in the bad times and not being aware of God in what we consider to be the good times.
The abundant life that Jesus described most likely included all having enough to eat and other basic needs met not more than enough. God’s abundance is having more than enough love for God and each other.
Prayer: Lord help us to carefully consider what is enough, and let us work toward assuring that the basic needs of all are being met. More importantly, open our ears and our eyes to hear your word and see your visions as we work to make them real in our world today experienced in the depth of your love. Amen.