The Jesse Tree

Second Thursday of Advent: Samuel

A Reading from the Book of 1 Samuel (3:1-10):

“During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, the word of the LORD was scarce and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, ‘Here I am.’ He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am. You called me.’ ‘I did not call you,’ Eli answered. ‘Go back to sleep.’ So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. ‘Here I am,’ he said. ‘You called me.’ But he answered, ‘I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.’

“Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, ‘Here I am. You called me.’ Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, ‘Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.'”

Lord God, Who calls Whom You will to Your service, You called Samuel to be Your prophet in Israel. He served You by speaking Your word of condemnation to the house of Eli, Your call to Saul as king of Israel, and Your anointing of David to succeed to the throne when Saul disobeyed You. As Samuel was faithful to Your service, so may we be faithful to Your will for us as we await the consummation of Your plan of salvation, never fearing to speak Your truth. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.