Sunday Homily 1-15-12, 2nd Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Samuel 3, 3-10 & 19, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening; Psalm 40, Here am I, Lord, I come to do Your Will; 1 Corinthians 6, 13-15 & 17-20, Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; John 1, 35-42, We have found the Messiah.
1 Samuel: This is book one of two books. The series is 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings; the characters being Samuel, the last of the Judge leaders of Israel-Judah; Saul, the first king; and King David.
Authors: Traditionally it was thought that 3 people wrote the book, Samuel, Gad, & Nathan. Samuel, chapters 1-25; Gad was King David's historian, & Nathan was an editor. Contemporary biblical experts think this unlikely & say that the works were put together at least 50 years after the time of the events.
Time: The events take place ca. 1100-1000 BCE. The compilation & recording of the events takes place ca. 950 BCE.
Today's Selection: Yahweh is calling Samuel in a dream. This ties in with the Gospel where three future apostles are called. Samuel's parents were Elkanah & Hannah, and Hannah is famous because of a touching story about how she came to have Samuel. She had been barren for years and even Elkanah's other wife ridiculed her. One day the prophet Eli heard her crying and praying in the temple. At first he accused her of being drunk. Then when he talked with her, he promised that she would have a son.
Hannah had promised Yahweh that she would dedicate to the temple her son, if she got one. Consequently, our selection finds Samuel residing in the temple with Eli the prophet. He would be about 12 years old.
Be aware that while these marvelous stories are mythological, the writer is attempting to convey to a simple people lessons about trust in Yahweh.
Eli Who?
When I was a young pup of a Jesuit I got to know an old blind Jesuit who was living in the old priests’ infirmary at Grand Coteau. I can still remember a tall, skinny Fr. McLaughlin doing pull ups on a bar in back of the big, four story building we lived in.
I got to know him especially well the first Christmas I spent at Grand Coteau, my first away from home. I had acquired a really good case of poison ivy and could not do much. I had gotten the poison ivy one recreation day when we were out in the Achafalaya swamp. I used some Spanish moss after a pit stop in the woods.
Fr. McLaughlin received tons of Christmas cards and being blind he needed someone to write for him. That was my job, which I did mostly standing that Christmas.
In the Jesuits we had a strong custom of having spiritual directors. Fr. McLaughlin was my first. He was a great raconteur of stories, but also a kind listener. He helped me through my homesickness.
I talk about Fr. Mac because he was an Eli figure for me. Fr. Mac & the priest Eli were both spiritual directors. I would like to talk about spiritual direction and directors. Two observations.
First, I highly recommend this old Jesuit custom. Get a spiritual director.
I have one. Most of you know him, David McKeon, a married priest from the Rochester, NY diocese, a spiritual man and a licensed psychotherapist.
I usually visit him every other month, usually just recounting to him the many blessings of life with Rosemary, the life of our community, and my insights.
Spiritual directors come in professional and semi-professional sizes. Some are counselors. Characteristics include:
1. The person is a good listener
2. They are affirmative
3. Like Eli, they reflect back what they are hearing.
4. They do not tell a person what to do. No “You shoulds,” a really difficult thing for lots of adults to refrain from. Actually, teachers are trained to do this—with students.
Secondly, besides recommending that you get a spiritual director, I would suggest that you all are spiritual directors, the semi-professional size. For years I was a spiritual director for nuns, priests, young Jesuits, and people from various areas of life.
Spiritual directors helped me all through the Jesuits and David McKeon still does. I invite you to consider yourselves spiritual directors. It happens at meals, coffees, at Tom Thumb, at receptions. Follow the four characteristics I mentioned, listen, affirm, reflect back, and don’t tell adults what they should do.
Furthermore, I invite you to get a spiritual director or counselor.
Who is the Eli in your life?
Picture 1: Georgie & Elizabeth
Picture 2: Ashley, Jean & Cliff's granddaughter
Picture 3: The Kerns, Ben, Candy, Michael, & Mike
Picture 4: Cole
Picture 5: Buddy with his granddad, Gilberto
Picture 6: Leo comfortable in Jean's arms