Dear Friends,
Last weekend I preached on our scriptures commenting on Samuel in the Temple and hearing the voice of God calling out to him. Finally, as Eli realizes it is God calling out to Samuel, he guides Samuel on how to respond when God calls out the next time.
God calls out to you and me daily. There are times when we wonder what it is about and even as we listen to God, how might we respond.
Sadly, friends I have known since grammar school, lost a grandchild to cancer on January 12th. They called upon me to come, pray and anoint their grandson on the previous Monday. Their grandson is named Neil Barton lll. They call him Tres (pronounced “tray”). Tres was seven years old and has a twin sister, Olivia. They have an older sister, eleven years old, named McKenna. Michelle and Neil are their parents. Needless to say, the afternoon I was at their home, I was overcome with this precious young boy I was visiting. I have been in similar situations before, but there is never a time for me that my heart isn’t heavy and sad. Children whose life is so brief and families who love them so dearly are never moments we seek out.
When Tres’s grandmother, my grammar school classmate Jan, called to say the time was near and then shortly afterwards to say Tres had died, my world stopped. A precious young boy, son, brother, grandchild and friend had been called home to God.
Samuel’s response to the Lord came to my mind. “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Listening. What will I hear? What will the Lord provide to comfort Tres’s family? What will the Lord provide to me when I preside at his funeral mass? I write this article a week before the funeral. I’m still listening but once again find myself at a loss of what to say. The Lord has spoken in the past and provided guidance and hope. I know He will again but I still grieve and wonder.
We all wonder don’t we? May we continue in our faith, a faith not always understanding why, and have the strength like Samuel, to call out, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” God will speak to us and be in our questioning and moments of grief.
God Bless You All,
Father Rob