Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 2, 2024
1 Samuel 3:1-20+Psalm 139:1-5,12-17+2 Corinthians 4:5-12+Mark 2:23-3:6
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
In this morning's edition of "you think you know what a passage says until you realize you don't," I give you God's calling of Samuel. It's a familiar story of the calling of the great prophet of Israel, the last leader in the time of the judges who ruled Israel and the transition into the monarchy under Saul and then David. The boy Samuel has grown up serving in the temple. He was dedicated to this work in thanksgiving for his birth by his mother Hannah who had been unable to conceive for a very long time. And here we have the boy Samuel caring for the old priest Eli when, in the night, he hears a voice calling for him. Three times he imagines it to be Eli, and the final time, Eli realizes that it is God calling and instructs Samuel to stay put and hear what the voice has to say to him.
And here's the part I read as if for the first time. It is not a disembodied voice that speaks to Samuel this time. The text clearly says that "the Lord came and stood there." That sent me to my Hebrew text and various commentaries, and nobody says anything about it. But what difference does it make? Theophanies, or appearances of the Holy One, are rare in the Hebrew scriptures. Jacob and Moses do see God (Genesis 32:30, Exodus 33:11), but usually such appearances are interpreted as angelic messengers, like with Abraham.
But not here. Samuel, as a boy, sees the Lord standing before him, and the message that he receives is that the future of Israel was in danger, in fact would be destroyed. It's a big, scary message for a 12-year-old (his age according to Josephus[1]). That could explain why he forgot the "Lord" part when he said "speak, for your servant is listening."
This story of Samuel is a hinge point in the history of ancient Israel, and it all starts with God calling. As I wrote in my annual report, this passage has been the favorite of our bishop over the past several months as she has met with young people and others seeking confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church. Bishop Hughes was unrelenting in telling each and every one of them that they are called, no matter what they may think or believe. They are called or they would not have been standing there.
The same is true for us, here. We are all called. That's what a vocation is - something you are called to. My vocation is to be a priest. One day, ages ago, I felt a nudge that told me that God had a place for me to serve the Church. It took a very long time for me to listen to that nudge, but when God calls, as Tim is fond of saying, the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
You may not be called to ordained ministry - or maybe you are - but you are called to something. Bishop Hughes impressed upon the young people to listen to what gave them joy and to do that, because that is probably what they are called to do. Is math your thing? Then go help someone for whom math is not. Do you love to read? Then go read with someone who has trouble with that. Do you like to cook? Then go share a meal with someone who is hungry. Do you like to read scripture? We have a lectern for you. Hospitality? Cookies are always welcome here. Leadership? Vestry or committee work or serving on the Shelter or Street Life board might suit you. The possibilities are endless. Frederick Buechner says that vocation is where your deep gladness meets the world's deep need.[2] Theologian and Civil Rights leader Howard Thurman put it this way: "Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."[3]
Samuel heard that call and served faithfully all the days of his life. But that part about the Lord standing there? I consulted my resident expert, Rabbi Scheinberg at United Synagogue, who said that there is a long tradition of understanding physical references to the deity as being metaphorical, and because that is the understanding, they don't always make it explicit for those of us not in the know. God "stood" in Samuel's ear, according to one 15th c. Jewish commentator. In other words, close enough so there could be no doubt who Samuel was hearing.
We do not have to think of a metaphorical presence of God or even wonder what it is God would have us do. God took on human flesh and lived on this earth just as we do. When Jesus called the disciples, he said, "Follow me." In our gospel this morning, following Jesus means feeding the hungry and healing the sick, even when those things open us up to criticism or ridicule. In the words of that old hymn, "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day His sweet voice soundeth saying, "Christian, follow me."[4]
You - all y'all - are called. Be like Samuel and say, "speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Be like those disciples who left their homes and their nets and went on that life-altering adventure with Jesus. This world - this church - needs what you have to offer.
[1] Josephus. "Book 5 Chapter 10 Section 4". Antiquities of the Jews. Sacred Texts.
[2] https://www.frederickbuechner.com/quote-of-the-day/2017/7/18/vocation
[3] https://www.bu.edu/thurman/about/history/
[4] Hymnal 1982 549/550