Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 2024

Title

God Takes the Initiative in Creation and Relation

Outline

This may be for you or it may be for you to use with others:

We often think of trying to reach God

So we engage in this or that practice, in this or that discipline, ever trying to get close to him, or else we get discouraged and abandon him.

But the whole process is misguided, as we see in our readings.

Samuel had been given to God by his mother, but God made the choice of him as prophet

Samuel’s mother dedicated him to God as a Nazirite and Eli raised him as a son, as a priest. But God purposed him as a prophet and judge and Samuel did not realize this until God at his chosen time spoke and Eli clued in.

[The text leaves out that his first message was God’s judgment on Eli’s blood house.]

Afterwards not a word of his “fell to the ground” because he only spoke what God communicated - he “got” his purpose.

Paul calls people to their purpose

We may talk about the negative effects of obesity or the negative effects physically and socially of immorality in its various forms. Paul does what we are find difficult in our culture: he talks about purpose. The purpose of the stomach (which likely refers to a proverb of his opponents) and the body as a whole is to serve God: “The body, however, is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.” God is not just joined to our souls, but also to our bodies, for he had a body. Therefore our bodies are members of Christ, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” We are individually as well as collectively temples: “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?” And this is not a temporary exigency for God, but permanent: “God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.” That is why Paul is so strong on the resurrection of the body in 1 Cor ch 15. Facit: “Therefore glorify God in your body.”

If I make a screwdriver and you use it as a chisel, it will break and I will likely be upset. If I chose a tiny house for my hermitage and you say, “Small building; would make a good outhouse,” I would not be impressed. Paul reasons back from God’s initiative, God’s purpose to our appropriate response in properly using and caring for the body.

Finally, look at Jesus

John only recognizes Jesus for who he is by divine revelation: “Behold the lamb of God.” John’s disciples get the point: the greater than John, the Messiah, so they politely, i.e. indirectly, ask to be at least his camp followers. Jesus responds affirmatively. Two of them invite their brothers to come to, and Jesus responds with revelation to each brother: “You shall be called Cephas” (i.e. Peter, Rock). They follow, no questions asked.

In these cases there is revelation to John which triggers interest, but it is Jesus’ revelation to the brother the directs them to their purpose in life.

Sisters, in a sense I am not seeking God

I do not need to find him, for he found me in my creation, and at each point in which it was needed he called me, either through someone or, more rarely, through a direct experience. Finding him was not the problem if I were patient. The issue was recognizing his intentions for me and responding obediently. Then I discover that I am actually functioning as his temple, that I am doing what I was made for.

I trust that you are recognizing this too.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2024: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 3:3b–10, 19

3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

7 Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

19 Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to go unfulfilled.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2024: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 40:8a, 9a

8 so I said, “See; I come

with an inscribed scroll written upon me.

9 I delight to do your will, my God;

your law is in my inner being!”

PSALM

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–10

2 Surely, I wait for the LORD;

who bends down to me and hears my cry,

4 And puts a new song in my mouth,

a hymn to our God.

Many shall look on in fear

and they shall trust in the LORD.

7 Sacrifice and offering you do not want;

you opened my ears.

Holocaust and sin-offering you do not request;

8 so I said, “See; I come

with an inscribed scroll written upon me.

9 I delight to do your will, my God;

your law is in my inner being!”

10 When I sing of your righteousness

in a great assembly,

See, I do not restrain my lips;

as you, LORD, know.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2024: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 6:13c–15a, 17–20

13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both the one and the other. The body, however, is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; 14 God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take Christ’s members and make them the members of a prostitute? Of course not!

17 But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. 19 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? 20 For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2024: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 1:41, 17b

41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).

17 because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL

John 1:35–42

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” 37 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 1-14-2024: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024 | ORDINARY TIME

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 1 Samuel 3:3b–10, 19

Response Psalm 40:8a, 9a

Psalm Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–10

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 6:13c–15a, 17–20

Gospel Acclamation John 1:41, 17b

Gospel John 1:35–42

GREEN