God is always calling us. The scriptures are clear about this, but we are not always listening, and even when we are listening, we sometimes misinterpret what God wants from us. Today's first reading suggests as much about Samuel.
Thinking that his only responsibility is to care for Eli, each time Samuel hears God calling him in the middle of the night, he goes to Eli to ask what Eli might need. Finally, Eli tells Samuel that the One calling him is the Lord and he should respond to God. God speaks again and Samuel answers, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Only then does Samuel learn that God, deeply upset with Eli, is about to change everything. God tells Samuel that Eli's sons will soon die in battle and Eli, upon hearing of their death, will fall backwards and break his neck. Upset with God's message, Samuel does not want to tell Eli what God told him, but Eli demands that Samuel tell him everything. After hearing Samuel's answer, Eli acknowledges that it was God speaking to Samuel, and knows that his service and life will soon end.
Today's readings invite, even demand, that we tell one another the truth. Today's New York Times had a disturbing article about soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are unable to drive our streets and highways without great fear. (1) Many of them cannot drive at all, and when they do drive they often speed up at intersections and go through stop signs for fear there are people ready to fire upon them. Others feel threatened by tunnels, overpasses and work crews along the road.
Reading the article I realized I was breathing very shallowly. I don't want to know about these soldiers problems, because I do not want to face the horrors of war, especially as it impacts the lives of children. But unless we face these issues, we will never come to terms with the long term disabilities these men and women face, and the terrible effects upon our society.
For decades I have heard retired military officers tell our society that only fools want to fight wars, but when we feel threatened it is difficult to listen. Dwight Eisenhower wrote, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." Today's scriptures again remind us that we cannot escape God, and need to find better ways to establish peace on the earth than fighting new wars.
Today, ask God to help you tell the truth and be a peacemaker.
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