Samuel Emerges as Eli Fades

Text: 1 Samuel 3: 1-21

Reflection and Question: Prophetic visions were not widespread and Eli, the faithful prophet with the wayward sons, could not see. But he knew enough to realize that the Lord was reaching out to Samuel and helped him listen. So Samuel began his service as a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. This strikes me as similar to our church fading; the Word is rare among us. Our youth, like Samuel, speak in a way that chastises us and we do well to help them listen. Are you part of what is fading or what is emerging?

Prayer: Eternal God, find in us the faithfulness of Eli and Samuel, we pray. Honor us with Your Word and strengthen us to be your trusted servants in our time and place as they were in theirs. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).