"YOU NEVER KNOW WHOSE NAME IS BEING CALLED THESE DAYS"
A sermon given by Rev. Earl William Greene, Jr. for the Second Sunday After Pentecost (B) based on I Samuel 3:1-20.
God has always raised up leaders. In biblical times there were names like Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Deborah, David, Esther, Isaiah, Jesus, Lydia, Peter and Paul. Since biblical times we could well add Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi, Albert Schweitzer, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa.
There are thousands who we could name. But there are hundreds of thousands of others - not - so famous. They have heard God calling them too, and have said "Here I am," - common people who, faced with situations and challenges stepped forward and did their part - great or small, and made a difference in their time and place - all through the centuries, right up to this very day.
These great leaders and "faithful unknowns" are like a great clouds of goodness in the sky - the sun shining through, bringing little shafts of light to our world. These were people who heard their names being called to do something - to bring some measure of goodness, or beauty, or truth to their own day. We might well wonder: whose name is being called today? But that's a question for later.
You may remember the sermon about Hannah on Mother's Day a few weeks ago. Hannah, out of gratitude for what God had done for her, offered her young son Samuel to God's service. She made a promise: "I will take him to the Temple when he is a young child, and ask the old priest Eli to teach him the ways of God. He will be a servant to his people."
In the story that we read today Samuel is about 12 years old. He is living in the Temple with old Eli - learning the ways of ceremony and study. Eli is close to a hundred," and almost blind. Eli is the faithful old man who, despite all the changes in the land kept the faith and rituals for Israel alive - sometimes single-handedly. Most people had forgotten all about "formal religion." Eli alone is faithful to God. And the time is drawing near for him to die.
Eli has sons. Now, the usual pattern was that a man like Eli is expected to pass on his priestly duties to his sons. But Eli's sons have become a great disappointment to everybody. Bad judgment. They are crude in their speech, careless in the way they live. If God is counting on them for the priesthood the faith of Israel is indeed in bad shape!
And, Eli has young Samuel living there. What to do with a little boy when you're in your nineties! So, here's what Eli requires. Samuel is to study Hebrew writings, and copy some of them in a careful hand onto parchment.
Samuel is expected to be adept at law and ethics. He knows the story of his people. Samuel is being trained in the art of making wise decisions. Samuel keeps the altar. Samuel knows all the chants - which incense goes with each day. He serves meals to Eli, and reminds the old man of the schedule for the day so he won't forget anything. Samuel serves as an acolyte, and keeps all the lamps trimmed and lit within the Temple. But these are all things Eli's own grown sons should know by now, but they don't.
On the night of this story, Samuel hears from God personally. God may have been talking to others, but no one was listening. Now, hearing God's voice requires a spirit of adventure. Hearing God's voice requires one's ability to live in the present - and not just the past. Hearing God's voice requires one's ability to look beneath the "obvious" to see "shades and colors" of things that others miss. Can a child hear God's voice? Yes, especially a child!
It's night. Everybody's asleep. Everybody but God. God thinks: "what am I going to do with Israel! Eli's sons! What a joke! Try as we might they simple won't hear anything I have to say. They're kind of like everybody else. There's not one of them fit to be a priest or judge." You see, God may have sleepless nights, too!
"Samuel! The little boy! Hannah's son! It's worth a try!" The first time God calls, Samuel hears a voice, and jumps out of bed, and runs to Eli. There were times when Eli needed something in the night. Samuel runs into Eli"s bedroom. But on this night Eli sends him back to bed, muttering to himself about being awakened from sleep.
On the second trip young Samuel heard the voice and stumbled out of bed, and by the third time he may have had to drag himself from underneath the covers. And by the third trip Eli is wide awake, trying to figure out what is going on!
He knows Samuel. This is not like Samuel. This is not just a little boy's bad dream. This is about Yahweh! God! It's the middle of the night, but Eli, the Teacher, coaches Samuel through this one. "It is God who is calling you, Samuel. God. Not me! If it happens again say "here I am.'"
What a magic moment! Eli, sending Samuel back to bed, yet Eli is curious! "What does God want with that boy?" "What am I supposed to do now? I'm his teacher. Why doesn't God tell me - then, I'll tell the boy what he needs to know. He's only twelve. I haven't taught him about dreams yet. How could he be ready for this? He's too young. Maybe I should go and sit with the boy.
Have any of you had children? Does any of this seem familiar? They're dreaming! Yet, it may be God!
One of the dilemmas of parents and teachers, therapists and pastors is to know when to step in, and when to hold back. Eli's task is complicated. Eli's has to trust young Samuel enough to go through this thing by himself, and to rely on this little boy to ask for help if he needs it. That's very complicated!
Samuel's task isn't any easier. There he is, back in bed, wide awake, primed and ready. He probably feels very grown up. Or, is he afraid? Samuel has to trust his own twelve years to know what kinds of things he can handle himself, and what he'd better have Eli do for him. A very delicate balance.
Samuel lays there .Waiting. Proud. Anxious. Maybe, he slumps down to his pillow, pulls up the covers, and drifts off to sleep.
"Samuel!" He jumps with a start - wide awake this time! And Samuel remembers his lesson: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."
Now, what Samuel got was an ear-full! God told him things that would make anion's ears tingle! This was adult stuff! This is important news! Twelve year old Samuel is about to get the first scoop.
God says, "Eli's sons are a worthless lot! I've been counting on Eli to mold them into shape. I know he's had his problems with them, but NOW! Eli's ready to die. And there's NO WAY that the faith of Israel is going to be entrusted to these 'sons of his.' I've decided to "retire" the whole house of Eli. These sons of his will never become priests and judges! A big change is in the wind!"
Now, why say all this to Samuel, a twelve year old boy? In today's theory of psychotherapy the experts would say that young Samuel was being triangled between Eli and God. And today's therapists would counsel Samuel to "de-triangulate" himself before he got hopelessly caught in the middle of matters that weren't any of his business.
It gets worse! In the morning Eli (who can hardly contain himself) says (casually, of course!) "And what did the Holy One want from you last night, Samuel."
Now, Samuel knew about the "politics" of things." Eli had taught him well! And, he'd rather not go into it over breakfast! But, young Samuel laid it right there on the breakfast table! "Eli, it's over! God isn't counting on your sons to take your place. It hasn't worked out. A big change is in the wind!"
Now, I've re-told a famous "Bible Story." What, if anything does it mean to you?
One possibility: you are old. Your days are numbered. Do you know any Samuels? Have you ever told a young person - "God is calling you to make a difference in this world. Your curiosity about science, your passion for equality, your "artistic sense, your hard questions - all of these are things that God cares about. Have you ever sensed that God is calling your name?" Do you know that neither Frank nor I would ever have known - except from the help of some Eli - that God was calling our name?
Another possibility. You're not "twelve." "Fifty" is your middle name! Is God asking you to make a difference? To tell what the truth really is!? To speak up where something is very wrong - in your family, or your job, or in this country, or in your church!
Another possibility: you are a parent to precocious kids, or you are their teacher, mentor, therapist, or supervisor - - pastor. How do you handle someone in your charge that "hears things." Hears hard to hear things! Things nobody wants to know! Things you're convinced, they aren't ready for yet? Things that may turn out to be "truth" - truth even you aren't ready to hear. Truth the Church isn't ready to hear. The word may come from someone barely "twelve" - or 60! Or maybe 94! It may be God! It may be a call from the future! And it may not always be news you want to hear!
Eli was wonderful! He answered Samuel this way: "I know it's a new day. I know my sons are self-centered and irresponsible. My "day" is almost over. I need to let all these things go now. But before I do I will find someone younger than me. And I will say, "Have you ever thought that God was calling your name? Samuel!"
Another possibility: you are Samuel. At 12, at 40. At 50, at 90! There is something only you understand, or know how to do. The time is right. God is speaking to you. There may not be another chance, another opportunity to respond in the unique way you can - ever again!
Is God calling your name?