Renewal, Eli-style!

2 Epiphany B 2012
1 Sam 3: 1-10; Ps 139; 1 Cor 6: 12-20; John 1: 43-51


“The Word of the Lord was rare in those days.” When is the last time you heard the Word of the Lord? Not just the written word of the Bible, but the living word of the Lord?

Does that sound like a strange question? Does that sound like an uncomfortably “religious” question, what some folks today might refer to as “woo-woo”? God speaking? Our hearing?

We need to deal with that question right out front today, because the readings place it right in front of our eyes.

“The Word of the Lord was rare in those days” says the story of God speaking to Samuel. That sentence chases away any fantasies we may have that “back in the day” people had greater spiritual experiences than we do now, or that people were more “primitive” and imagined more spiritual things than we do, oh we ever-so-sophisticated people. “The Word of the Lord was rare in those days”—in stillness it is easier to hear the still voice of God. Other things, louder things were drowning it out.

In Samuel’s time it was chaotic politics, corruption and abuse of power, exploitation of the poor and helpless, and uncertainty and fear that spoke loudly and drowned out other sounds. Now we can’t relate to any of that, can we? Confusion and abuse outside combines with fear and anger inside to create a perfect storm of noise. God does not shout, nor grab us by the shoulder and shake.

Old Eli, with his years catching up to him and his broken heart and his bad conscience over his sons shaking down the poor at the temple, slept his exhausted despairing sleep. But there was one set of new fresh ears and one open wondering heart that was alert to the still speech of God.

Young Samuel does not recognize the still voice in the night for who it is. He still does need old Eli, old burned-out and exhausted and despairing Eli. Eli still has his part to play. His ears may be closed, his “golden days” may be long ago, but he can still mentor a new young servant of God. “Go and lie down…say ‘speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

That’s OUR story today. That is the Bible’s tale of how a tired community can hear the voice of God and of how its members can help one another to hear and to renew a community’s life.

Is it our story? Is it the story of Saints Peter and Paul?

We are a community of Christian folk with a track record rich with faith and with service and with life lived with one another. That record, that tradition and those memories, are a gift and yet they can become a burden. They can make us feel like we have lost something in these late years. Where do we begin? Where is our new life? Some of us who have been here long can relate to Eli, who has seen it all and who lays down each night filled with his weariness and his worry for the present and the future.

But that is not our whole story. Some of us are Samuel, with quick and fresh ears and hearts filled with wonder. Some of us look about and see new life, new growth, such richness now and such promise for the future. Some of us are attuned to the fresh, renewing voice of God speaking.

Some of us are Eli and Samuel both, at the same time. Some of us live in a confusing place where weariness and fresh hope are mixed up, side by side.

So how do we let God speak here at Saints Peter and Paul?

We shall live with one another gently and respectfully, with love. Old Eli and young Samuel were sharing life simply in the temple of Shiloh, taking care of the sacred space while waiting for God to speak. We make a home together here. We have such a gift in one another—walking a Christian path is not a solo act, not a private journey.

We shall cherish one another’s gifts. Samuel’s gifts were alert sharp ears and an open, hopeful heart to hear the fresh voice of God. Let’s love those among us with those ears and hearts, and let’s love and welcome the Samuel within us who is still alert and hope-filled even when we are tired.

Eli’s gifts were long and faithful service and readiness to accept that the Lord might speak through the new and the young. Eli could have sent Samuel back to bed telling him, “Don’t bother me, I’ve tried to hear God speaking that way and he doesn’t do it, you’re new and don’t know how things really are. YOU’LL find out!” But Eli did not do that. Instead Eli shared his own experience, helping Samuel to sharpen his ears and to hear clearly God’s speech, even when what God had to say was not comfortable for Eli.

And that is how God renewed his people then. Shall we let God renew us now?

Eli and Samuel are among us here. At times they are both within each of us. Treasure the hard-won experience and faithfulness of Eli, of the Elis among us. Welcome the freshness and eagerness of Samuel, of the Samuels among us and the Samuel within each of us.

And then? And then we shall welcome one another to new and renewed life, here in God’s beloved community of Saints Peter and Paul. We have lived thus far with Eli and Samuel—the Gospel today shows us how to do that welcoming. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” “Come and see.”

Can God renew us? Can anything good come out of an aging church in a challenging age? “Come and see”