The Friday Email
THE FRIDAY EMAIL Friday 15th January 2021 The Friday Thought from our Associate Priest, Revd Debbie Our lives are full of endless chatter, be that from the TV, radio, our phones, social media, you name it. As a result of the current crisis, I expect that you, like me, are watching more news items and government briefings than ever before. It seems we’re either being bombarded with noise or actively seeking it out; some would say like an addiction, which drowns out our own thoughts and opportunities for meaningful reflection. I do wonder at times, how much of the babble I really hear? The reading from Samuel underscores the importance of listening. While Samuel is sleeping, he believes he hears someone calling his name. So Samuel wakes up and runs to Eli thinking Eli has called. "Here I am, Lord," he says, running to old Eli who stumbles out of bed and grumbles, "Go back to sleep, you're hearing things." After responding to hearing his name called several times, Eli instructs Samuel to "Go to sleep, and if you are called reply: 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel follows Eli's orders, and when called upon again, he responds accordingly. And so Samuel grows up with the Lord accompanying him, giving him insight, wisdom, and strength as one of his prophets. This was a time in Israel’s history when Israel was out of communication with God. Eli was getting too old to lead (his loss of vision is what happens to the elderly but is also symbolic of the people’s inability to see the things of God), and his sons were wicked.
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