(1Sm 3:3b-10,19; Ps 40; 1Cor 6:13c-15a,17-20; Jn 1:35-42). Please go through all the readings before the homily.
Prepared by Rev. Fr. Pascal Mwakio, Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya.
Praise be to Jesus Christ in this new year 2024. "We have found the Messiah."
As the year begins we need to be sure that we have found the one our heart desires; we have found the work our heart desires; we have found the direction our heart desires; we have found the education our heart desires; we have found the vocation/call our heart desires and so forth.
In the context of the gospel, John the Baptist, his disciples and the entire people of Israel desired for the messiah. Since not just anyone knew him or got this revelation, there was need for someone who points out to us the messiah.
The same case happened to Samuel in the first reading. He had no clue of the Lord and Eli was yet to understand who called Samuel. "At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet."
When we discover the one our hearts truly desire, we shall be at peace. It is unfortunate that some followers of Christ have still not found the messiah in their hearts and lives. They are still searching for him from one church to another, from one posterity to the other.
There are many voices, many shepherds, many directions, many churches and places of worship. We need to be sure of finding and following the true messiah. Since Samuel was dedicated to the Lord in the temple, he was searching in his heart what the Lord wanted of him. He had heard many voices or same voice calling him severally.
There is a point in life we need someone to help clarify and fine tune the voices we hear. In the midst of confusion, we can embrace any promising voice. The person who directs us also needs to be careful not to misinterpret the voices.
At first, Eli wasn't very sure where the voice was calling from. He thought Samuel was dreaming. "Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth." This is the moment of finding the messiah. "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Samuel found the Lord, the one his heart was desiring for. Although his parents (Elkanah and Hannah) desired that their son be dedicated to the Lord, Samuel had to discover by himself and find this Lord.
There are times parents force what they desire to their children without the children personally discovering that they truly desire the same. In this situation we find people who have never found out the messiah and have never embraced the desires of their own heart.
When we truly find the messiah and discover who is behind our calling, we shall be ready to listen to him. "Samuel answered, Speak, for your servant is listening." Having found the messiah, his voice becomes familiar to us.
We shall no longer be confused by other voices which keep calling. The word of God becomes fruitful. "Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect."
The journey of discipleship begins when we find the messiah. When John pointed out to Jesus saying "Behold, the Lamb of God," the two disciples began following Jesus. To be sure of their intention Jesus posed a question to them. "What are you looking for?"
When Jesus knew they were looking for him and needed to know where he stays, he invited them to follow him. "Come, and you will see." Many people manage to see where the Lord lives but do not continue following his way of life.
The most important fruit of having found the messiah is witnessed in getting others to discover the messiah. That is how we spread the gospel. Andrew first found his very own brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. How difficult is it sometimes to evangelize our own families. We may have a priest or a religious in a family yet some of his/her family members have not yet found the messiah. Other members found the messiah and abandoned him to other voices.
Let us not get tired of making new disciples for Christ. The person you introduce to the Lord could be the one Jesus wants to give major responsibilities. "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas." Once we find the messiah, we become totally united with him. "But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him." We become members of Christ in body and in spirit. It is not genuine to claim that our bodies are solely ours and we have the freedom to do whatever we want with them (my body my choice). "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
In this reality then any sin against our bodies and that of others is an attack to the Holy Spirit and the messiah. In the faith of the resurrection, we shall have our bodies too glorified. Let us then glorify God in our bodies now as we shall in the life after.