Speak, Lord, Your Servant Is Listening

Where We Are

We continue in the First Week of Ordinary Time. In 1 Samuel, the boy Samuel receives his prophetic calling in one of the most beloved scenes of the Old Testament. In Mark's Gospel, Jesus continues his ministry in Capernaum, healing Simon's mother-in-law and many others, then withdrawing to pray before dawn. Mark is painting a picture of a ministry that overflows with compassion yet remains anchored in solitary communion with the Father.

The Word

Young Samuel serves in the temple under the priest Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days. During the night, God calls Samuel's name three times. Each time, the boy runs to Eli, thinking the old priest summoned him. Finally, Eli realizes it is God and instructs Samuel to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel obeys and becomes a trusted prophet throughout all Israel. In the Gospel, Jesus enters Simon's house and heals his mother-in-law of a fever. That evening, the whole town gathers at the door, and Jesus heals many who are sick and drives out demons. Rising very early, while it is still dark, he goes to a deserted place and prays. When Simon and the others find him, Jesus says, "Let us go on to the nearby villages, that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come."

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Reflect

Samuel's story is about learning to recognize God's voice. The boy hears his name called three times and each time runs to the wrong source. It takes Eli, flawed as he is, to identify what is happening. This is a beautiful picture of spiritual growth. We often need others to help us discern God's voice, especially in the beginning.

What strikes me about Samuel's response is its simplicity: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." There is no agenda, no list of requests, no attempt to control the conversation. Just openness. Just readiness. This is the posture of prayer at its most pure.

Jesus models the same posture in Mark's Gospel. After a night of intense ministry, he could have kept going. The crowds were waiting. The needs were endless. Instead, he rose before dawn and withdrew to pray. When the disciples found him and reported that "everyone is looking for you," Jesus did not rush back. He moved on to the next village. His ministry was directed not by demand but by communion with the Father.

This is a critical lesson for anyone who wants to serve God. Activity without prayer becomes exhaustion. Prayer without action becomes escapism. Jesus holds them together, serving generously and then retreating to listen. Samuel's words become Jesus's practice: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

Living It

Begin tomorrow morning with Samuel's prayer before you check your phone or start your routine: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Sit with the silence for three minutes. Do not try to fill it. Let God lead the conversation.

Jesus withdrew to pray when the demands were greatest. Identify the busiest, most overwhelming part of your current week. Instead of powering through, schedule a deliberate pause, even fifteen minutes, to pray in the middle of it.

Is there an Eli in your life, someone who helps you recognize God's voice? If so, reach out to them today with gratitude. If not, consider finding a spiritual director, mentor, or trusted friend who can help you discern what God is saying.

Prayer

Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening. In the noise of our days, teach us to hear your voice the way Samuel did, with openness and trust. Give us the wisdom of Jesus, who knew when to serve and when to withdraw, when to heal and when to pray. Help us resist the tyranny of demand and anchor our lives in communion with you. May our listening shape our doing, and our doing flow from your Word. Amen.