'Stay close, stay quiet' (Sunday homily)

(Source: The Pitzviews Blog) 

If you want to boil down these readings to a few key words, 

how about this: “Stay close; stay quiet.”

Samuel is in the House of the Lord. 

God is speaking to him but he’s too quick to act; 

he runs around, and Eli tells him: stay put, stay quiet. 

That’s how Samuel begins to hear God and to know God.

You and I are all different. 

Some of us are all action, no contemplation. 

Others of us are always up inside our head, 

and just getting out and volunteering at a homeless shelter 

or visiting someone who is in trouble might help us rebalance. 

You know who you are. 

If God is nudging you, either toward more quiet, or more action, 

Make Samuel’s words your own: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”

Now, let’s talk about the Gospel. 

Did you find the reaction of the two disciples humorous? 

When Jesus asks, what are you looking for? 

Their answer seems odd: where are you staying? 

We might imagine Jesus saying, 

“uh, at the Holiday Inn, why do you ask?”

But it turns out, they ask the perfect question!

They could have asked, “Who are you?” 

Or, “What’s special about your teaching?” 

Or, “what will it cost us to be your followers?” 

But where Jesus is – and being with Jesus – is the perfect focus.

Staying close and quiet with Jesus will give them all the answers. 

Here’s something we’ve all seen.

A small child is in a crowd of people, lost in thought, 

or looking around, assuming mom or dad is right there. 

After a bit, the child looks up with fright: 

"Where's mom? Where's dad?!"

They’re only a few feet away, but it’s still a shock,

and the child scurries to grab mom or dad’s leg.

You and I are that child. It is so easy to focus on our own stuff, 

and to lose track of how close we are to Jesus.

And since we’re not talking about physical nearness, 

but nearness of heart, doesn’t that make it trickier to perceive 

if we’ve drifted off? How do we know?

When it’s our physical health, how do we monitor it? 

We learn to read the signs of our own body, and pay attention. 

Maybe you check your forehead 

or listen for any wheezing in your chest. 

Also, we know better than to go only on what we learned as a kid. 

Don’t we all try to read and learn more about our own health?

And at certain points, we go to the doctor for advice and check-ups. And if we don’t, you and I know that’s the wrong move.

Why be surprised that our spiritual health works in a similar way?

There are too many people who stopped learning about their faith after 8th grade. 

Would you do that with your car, or your checking account?

And there is no substitute for regularly examining our conscience. 

It’s going to be way more fruitful if we put in some real effort. 

There are many resources available online, 

just google, “Catholic examination of conscience.” 

They usually take you through the Ten Commandments. 

Do all ten, not just the ones you think you’re good at!

And that pairs with confession. 

Apologies to all dentists, but not many of us 

really enjoy getting that teeth cleaning. 

It’s not better when you put it off!

And as the spiritual dentist, I can assure you:

going to confession is way, way, less unpleasant

than the pokey-pokey in your teeth and gums! 

If we prepare well, it’s a breeze. 

If you and I keep coming, it will bear great fruit. 

The greatest of that fruit is knowing 

whether we’re staying close to Jesus, 

and learning how to stay quiet in order to hear God speak.