HOMILY FROM CANON STEPHEN BAILLIE
2nd Sunday of B21
Come and See
Samuel was vowed to God by his mother Hannah, before he was born. Hannah prayed for a child. She was taunted and jeered by Peninnah. She was ‘the other woman’ of Elkanah and she had ten sons and two daughters. Strangely, the bible does not name them. But imagine the depth of Hannah’s prayer.
Samuel, the name, literally means ‘heard by God’. We can learn from the boy Samuel. He teaches us how to LISTEN to God. Samuel calls himself ‘God’s servant, who let no word of his fall to the ground.’ It is not without accident that LISTEN and SILENT share the same letters! This is our first step in prayer. Samuel was lying in waiting listening mode in the sanctuary beside the ark of God. Third time lucky Samuel got it right and this gives us an insight into a God who never gives up – even when we get it wrong.
Let us all resolve to reverence God’s Word by listening to it as Samuel teaches us. At every Mass we hear the words of John the Baptist from today’s Gospel: ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ John, like Samuel is pointing us in the direction of the Lord. In today’s Gospel we see that Andrew is the one who led Peter his brother to Jesus. Who are the quiet people who have led you in the way of faith, hope and love? Who is the person that has deeply influenced your life and enables you to make a difference for good? In every family and parish community there are quiet Andrews who lead us – but remain anonymous. Today is the day to thank them for their presence of blessing in your life.
I would like to remember Canon Brendan, who sadly died yesterday morning; who was a very kindly and prayerful priest, who as an elderly priest has deeply influenced my life and enabled me to make a difference for good. God rest him. Let us also remember the influence that Archbishop Philip, of Glasgow and Bishop Vincent Logan, of Dunkeld made to the life of so many over the years. RIP
