Readings for the Day: Retreat Matters

The readings for the day could have been used for the first day of an Ignatian Retreat.

The Gospel for the Day is standard fodder for a retreat. The Gospel says how, after a long day of healing, Jesus withdraws to a deserted (or lonely) place to pray. Retreatants are often introduced to this image and are invited to be alone with the Lord in their silent retreat.

In the first reading, Samuel is waken by the voice of someone calling him and he thought it was his master, Eli. After he hears the voice a third time, Eli realizes it is God calling to Samuel and tells Samuel to reply, "Speak, Lord, Your Servant is listening".

I think the reading on Samuel is a perfect illustration of what a retreat looks like. God calls a person or wants to tell a person something but the person does not recognize God's voice "because the Lord had not revealed anything to him yet". What's nice about Samuel is that he hears something. There is a spiritual openness to God's voice, as it were. (What's also nice is that God sounds like Eli for Samuel. Eli must have been the embodiment of God's love for Samuel)

And then there is Eli, a veteran of prayer, who after getting off his irritation at having been woken thrice recognizes that it is God calling Samuel. So he proceeds to suggest to Samuel what can be said in reply. After overcoming himself, Eli makes a good spiritual director move.

After everything is said and done, Samuel grew up and in the words of the link's version, grew up to be an accredited prophet. The encounter with God bears fruits.