Friends, welcome to Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Word on Fire is an apostolate dedicated to the mission of evangelization, using media both old and new to share the faith on every continent and to facilitate an

encounter with Christ and his church.

The efforts of Word on Fire engage the culture and bring the transformative power of God's word where it is most needed.

Today we invite you to join Bishop Robert Barron as he preaches the gospel and shares the warmth and light of Christ with each one of us.

Peace be with you.

Well friends, we've come through the Christmas season and we commence now with the second Sunday in

ordinary time and our first reading is just one of my favorites in the

Old Testament from the first book of Samuel the account of the call of Samuel, this young kid who hears

the voice of the Lord for the first time.

I remember first of all that Samuel is the son of Hannah, Hannah who was begging for a child from God and

then receives his great gift. But then very early on, Hannah gives him back to the

Lord. He returns him to the temple in Shiloh and to Eli the priest who then cares for him.

So it's a beautiful story, it's a strange story. It shows you what this mother is willing to do.

She received a gift from God and then she gives that gift back.

So we know this kid is going to play some very important role in the history of salvation.

Indeed he does.

And this is the account now of his call.

He's with Eli, his sort of mentor and protector, and where are they? They're in the temple.

That's where Hannah left him.

But listen how it begins.

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the

arc of God was. Now I've said this to you before, sleep in the Bible is not a

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