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Sermon 6/23/02
Baccalaureate Sunday - 1 Samuel 3:3-10
(view notes for this text)
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'
This story of Samuel, hearing and responding to God's call is a familiar favorite, like the stories of Jesus calling the Twelve, or of Isaiah the prophet responding to God's call with a firm, 'Here I am, Lord, send me!' God calls, vividly, loudly, clearly, and the servant responds eagerly, readily, confidently.
Yet for all these Bible passages about God's call to God's people, and the response given by the faithful servants, it seems few people really expect to be called by God, and fewer still feel prepared to answer that call. One pastor questions, "Why do so many people, many of them fine people, many of them people who already believe in God and accept Christ, believe that God is not speaking to them personally? That God is not trying to guide them in a particular way? That God is not reaching out to them?" The question is a good one, worth exploration. Don't we talk about call all the time? Haven't we heard over and over that God calls, and we ought to respond? Why, then, doesn't the message sink in? Why do we keep talking about it?
Rev. Richard Fairchild speculates that we don't get it, we don't get that God will really call us, even us, because we've gotten all mixed up about recognizing God's call when it comes. Sure, we think, if God called to us so clearly as to Samuel, it would be easy to recognize the situation! After all, we read that God came and stood next to Samuel, called his name, and gave him a clear message.
What we forget about is that, despite the seeming clearness of God's call, Samuel had no idea who was talking to him or what was being said. Each time he heard God's voice, he ran to his teacher Eli, confused, thinking Eli was calling him. Despite Eli's insistence that it was not he who called, Samuel kept returning to his bedside. Finally, it is Eli, with poor sight in reality, but perceptiveness spiritually, who realizes that God is calling out to Samuel. Once Samuel realizes God is speaking to him, that GOD is speaking to HIM, the message is easy to understand, and Samuel grows into one of Israel's most grounded spiritual guides, overseeing the work of Saul and David.
What if Samuel had never recognized God's voice? What if there was no Eli in the picture? The history of God's people might have unfolded much differently. What if Samuel had not believed that God could be calling him?
The truth is, God is calling you and me, and all these graduates we celebrate with today. In Isaiah 43, God tells us: "I have called you by name, you are mine." Each of us is called by name, called by God. Do you believe that? Do you know that you are called for a precious, special purpose? You, in the balcony, are called by God. You, in the back pews are called by God. You, grandparents, are called. You, choir members, are called by God. You, Les, and Jeff are called. You, graduates - you (insert names: Todd, you Amber, you John, you Marianne ) are named and called by God for a unique purpose all your own.
Sometimes, like Samuel, we don't recognize God's voice, because it comes quieter or louder, sooner or later than we were expecting it. Or sometimes, in this crazy world, we forget to expect God's voice at all. As our passage from today begins, "The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread." Perhaps we feel that the voice of God is rare today. Yet, God is always speaking to us, always calling us, even when the pace of the world rarely slows down enough to listen. Sometimes, we need an Eli, we need someone to say, "Hey, it's God that's calling you." I've been preparing for ordained ministry for long enough now that it often feels I've always wanted to be a pastor. But the truth is, it took a lot of people asking, "have you thought about seminary?" "have you considered the ministry?" before I finally recognized God's voice. Graduates, listen to the voices of those you trust and who love and care for you. Perhaps they can interpret God's voice for you, even when you can't recognize it. Pay attention when someone tells you how gifted you are, when someone suggests you might be called to something you haven't thought of before. Pay attention to your gut feelings that let you know that you already have heard where God wants you to be. Pay attention, because God will, God is calling you.
We are a people called by God, to be loving, to be faithful, to carry out justice, to extend mercy. "For surely I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." God does speak to us, even today, even to me, even to you.
Let us pray: God who names us, God who calls us, help us to tune our ears to recognize your voice when you speak to our hearts. Bless these young men and women as they seek to set on a new path under your care. Let us be for them friends and helpers who share with them the dreams the lie in their futures. Keep calling us God, as we work to recognize your always-present voice in our lives. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.