January 18, 2009: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings speak of “listening.” Samuel must learn to “hear” the Voice of God, and as the disciples “hear” the words of John, they are drawn to Jesus the Word of God Whose Voice will form them and transform them from fisherfolk into faithful disciples of the Prince of Peace. Twenty centuries separate us from the disciples and Jesus, 40 centuries separate us from Samuel and Eli, yet the task they faced is the same task we face: training our ear to hear the Eternal Voice. Let us pray for ears that can hear the Voice of God over the myriad other voices that compete for our loyalty.