Listening

Dr. John Roy

I Samuel 4:1-10

May 7, 2006

There are many things that could be said to you, Sara Jane, on this day of your ordination into the office of the holy ministry. Certainly it is day of thanksgiving and joy as you with Trey reflect on the route that brought you here. Your parents and family, friends and fellow-Christians have encouraged you in your aspiration to be a minister and have supported you with their gifts. You have devoted yourself to careful study and prayer. You have made some sacrifices and faced some disappointments.

You have been shaped by professors, fellow students, and by a congregation. You are well-prepared for the office you are about to assume. But all of that as memorable and important as it is not the focus of this day. When all is said and done it is about Jesus Christ.

There is no other way to put it, but we hear voices. Why else would anyone surrender to the cause of the cross? I guess we all hear voices, but usually it is us religious fanatics who end up actually admitting “I THINK GOD SPOKE TO ME.” To be ordained is to be 3 parts idealistic. We still believe God speaks to us and we believe the best about all people, no wonder God calls us, we are the only ones touched enough to hear.

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple ^[a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel.
      Samuel answered, "Here I am."  And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

  Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

  The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
      Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Listening. It means more than “to hear.” It means in its fullest since to react. Of course the reaction may mean doing something, it could mean feeling something, and could also mean believing something.

Sara Jane it is listening that brought you to this alter and listening is your duty from here on. To listen to another, to react to their words, their life, their need, and their pain this is the path of the ordained.

We listen first for God’s voice. Like Samuel we can become confused and we must guard against this. Yet like Samuel if we train ourselves we can recognize God’s voice. We are part mystic as well. We may hear God in the way of a plant or hear God in music or hear God in silence or maybe even hear God in a sermon.

I don’t think God guides us who have ordained more than anyone else, I just think we are obsessed with listening. Listening to God may never make it to any job description you follow but it is indeed your number one responsibility.

We also listen to others. Jesus listened, he heard about a daughter who was dying, a brother who was dying, a man who was born blind, a woman who had been removed from polite society, and many others. Jesus of course saw his calling as a listener. To listen to others lives and then react. To some he reacted with healing with others he was empathetic and still others he showed a better way.

You likewise are asked to listen. To listen to patients trapped in pain or hospital employees lamenting their careers or parishioners lamenting their disappointments or anyone of us sinner’s guilt ridden with spiritual poverty. You will be called upon to respond; to be empathetic to be loving to be the incarnation of Jesus.

As this congregation launches you into ministry. We encourage you to stir up the gift God has given you. Continue to listen and continue to follow. When you listen and when you follow you will end up at the cross. While it is indeed an emblem of suffering and pain, the cross is also the way home. So listening eventually leads you home.

Almighty God, make Sara Jane a servant of your Kingdom. Pour out your spirit upon her. Make her an instrument of hope, peace, love, and mercy. May she spread your good news with her listening ear, her willing heart, and her thoughtful words. May the words of her mouth and the meditations of her heart be pleasing unto you O’Lord. In the name of the one who listens to our cries, Jesus our Savior we pray. Amen.