Daily Catholic Lectio
Sun, 14 January 2024
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19. 1 Corinthians 6:3-15, 17-20. John 1:35-42
Spiritual mentoring
‘I am able to see far because I stand on the shoulders of my mentors,’ said Sir Isaac Newton when he was asked about his progress in scientific theories. We make a lot of efforts to know God, to experience him, and to follow him. But, as the process is tedious and the time is short, we are not able to reach God. Spiritual mentoring assists us in our journey towards God. In our tradition, we hear the saying, ‘Mātha, Pitha, Guru, Deivam’ (Mother, Father, Teacher, God). Here, a mother leads a child to its father, a father leads him or her to a teacher, and a teacher accompanies him or her to God.
In the first reading, the priest Eli offers spiritual mentoring to the boy Samuel by making him discern the call (voice) of God. In the gospel reading, John the Baptist offers his disciples spiritual mentoring to follow ‘the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’
The first reading brings before us the call narrative of boy Samuel. God calls Samuel, and Samuel answers the call. The name ‘Samuel’ means ‘asked of God,’ or ‘God heard’. The name bears the message that God heard the plea of the people of Israel. God heard the cry of Anna and gave her Samuel; later, Samuel hears the voice of the people and puts it in the ear of God.
At Eli’s house, which was part of the house of the Lord, Samuel was not able to recognise the voice of God. He mistakes God’s voice for the voice of Eli. The text says that Samuel did not know the Lord yet. Eli points out to Samuel that it was the Lord who called him. Eli instructs Samuel to respond, saying, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant listens.’ But Samuel leaves out ‘Lord’ and says, ‘Speak; your servant listens.’ Later, Samuel will listen to the people of Israel as their servant.
Samuel is being called three times. This shows three stages of his spiritual journey. Only through Eli’s mentoring is he able to identify God and respond to him. The reading concludes with the message that the Lord was with Samuel. Samuel, who was mentored by Eli, became a mentor for the people of Israel.
In the gospel reading, we hear the story of the call of the first disciples of Jesus. They were primarily the disciples of John the Baptist. John points to Jesus and says, ‘Behold, the lamb of God.’ This is the first of the seven titles given to Jesus in the first chapter of the fourth gospel. This title shows that Jesus will be the Paschal lamb, which will be slaughtered for the forgiveness of sin in the world.
The disciples follow Jesus and stay with him. Later, Andrew comes to Simon and professes, ‘We have seen the Messiah.’ Andrew, who went behind the teacher, found the Messiah. He became Simon’s spiritual mentor.
In the second reading, Paul instructs the church in Corinth to leave out their old selves and to maintain ethical purity. He reminds them that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul instructs that no compromise must be made on this.
Thus, in the first reading, Eli offers spiritual mentoring to Samuel. Samuel responds to Eli’s guidance. And later, Samuel begins to offer spiritual mentoring to the people of Israel.
In the second reading, through Paul’s mentoring, the people of Corinth begin to live a life that is ethical and upright.
And in the third reading, John the Baptist offers mentoring to the first disciples of Jesus, one of whom turns out to be Simon.
Like Eli, Paul, and John the Baptist, we too are spiritual mentors. At times, we are in need of spiritual mentors. The readings of the day offer us these lessons:
(a) The qualities and works of a spiritual mentor
A spiritual mentor first and foremost must have had God experience. In the light of this experience, he will be able to guide others. A bishop of the local church, a parish priest, a religious priest, a brother or sister, our grandparents, parents, teachers, and elders – all of them are spiritual mentors. At times, we forget our role in spiritual mentoring. We presume that the younger ones will grow on their own. We must be ready to guide others without hesitation and with integrity.
(b) Letting go
A spiritual mentor must be generous enough to let go. Students will always outdo masters. Masters must be ready to accept this fact. And students will begin to be on their own. A master can never expect a student to be his. Eli knew that the boy Samuel would have no need to hear his voice after he began to hear the Lord’s voice. John the Baptist knew that his disciples wouldn’t return to him after meeting Jesus. Paul knew that his own community would begin to misunderstand him. They were ready to let go.
(c) Immediate response and continuous mission
Those who seek mentoring must respond to the mentors at once. Samuel obeys Eli, and the disciples obey John the Baptist. Their humility leads to obedience. They become mentors for others. Thus, mentoring goes on for the next person.
In the responsorial psalm (cf. Ps 40), we hear the words of surrender: ‘Lord, I come to do your will.’ The spiritual mentors lead us to experience God. We are called to respond to God’s call and to abide in him.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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