(Reflections from a sermon given January 19, 2003 by Pastor Marina Lachecki,
using the text of 1 Samuel 3. 1-20, the calling of Samuel, and John 12.43-51)

The Hebrew scriptures speak to the "word of the Lord being rare in those days. Visions were not widespread." My question is, "Was it because the people weren't listening?" In the interplay and dialogue that followed, Samuel heard a voice, "Samuel, Samuel" but did not know what it was...and assumed it was Eli calling him in the night. Samuel was followed a traditional and usual pathway when he heard a call. Don't we sometimes do the same thing and fail to open our ears and listen intently for new directions?

In the gospel text, we read about the calling of Nathanial, as a student of the Torah, but who was surprised that "something good could come out of Nazareth." Don't we assume that God will speak only in places that are deemed holy or through words that have been recognized as sacred?

Perhaps we need to open our ears and remember that the voice of God is always present to us, and is not dependent on the time of day, nor the time of life; it is not dependent on the place of worship or the place of work. Our relationship to God is a matter of God speaking to us and our responding to the summons, "Here I am, your servant is listening."

What are the requirements of listening?
Silence (not listening to words, arguments, pros/cons, positions/opinions)
"In the depth of silence,
No words are needed.
No language required.
In the depth of silence I am called to listen.

Listen to the beating of your heart.
Listen to the blowing of the wind,
the movement of the Spirit.
Be silent, said the Lord,
and know that I am God"
An Indonesian author, 1983
Imagining the Word

Attention (deep listening)
"In every experience of true listening...there is a mysterious moment in
which the one who listens steps out from a fortress of self-concern and
dwells silently in the truth of the one who speaks. This is a moment
of great risk and great courage for it ushers us into a different way of
being in the world." John Mogabgab
Weavings, May/June, 1994

Presence (Stepping outside)
"If God truly works through the incarnational medium of the individual person, then God's presence will be shaped by life circumstance, culture, language, personality and history of that particular man or woman."
Wendy Wright
Desert Listening, Weavings, 1994
Closing prayer:
"In this century and in any century,
our deepest hope, our most tender prayer,
Is that we learn to listen.
May we listen to one another in openness and mercy
May we listen to plants and animals in wonder and respect.
May we listen to our own hearts in love and forgiveness.
May we listen to God in quietness and awe.
And in this listening,
Which is boundless in its beauty,
May we find the wisdom to cooperate
With a healing spirit, a divine spirit,
Who beckons us into peace and community and creativity.
We do not ask for a perfect world.
But we do ask for a better world.
We ask for deep listening."

Jay McDaniel

Prayers for a Thousand Years

last updated

05/21/2003

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