Today’s Catholic Reading, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, begins with God calling Samuel to be His Prophet around the year 1083 BC. “During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
God did not speak to many, but: “One day Eli was asleep in his usual place… The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of The LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel thought Eli was calling him. He awakened Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” The third time that happened, “Eli understood that God was calling Samuel, and told him to tell God, “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
Catholics see that Eli was chosen to be a Prophetic Predecessor to Jesus and His Catholic Popes. “Samuel grew up, and The LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus, all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of The LORD.”
Being “accredited” separates false Prophets from those whom God has chosen. Today, Catholic priests and religious are “accredited” by taking vows of Poverty, Celibacy, and Obedience.
Then, they are Ordained by Catholic Bishops. Each of them is a “living link” in a Holy Chain that reaches back 2,000 years. That is when He Who is “accredited” by having fulfilled over 300 Messianic Prophecies Spoke His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church into Being by saying to The First Catholic Pope:
“And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
May all be blessed to understand the importance of being “accredited” by God before we go to His Judgment!
Catholics are blessed to most meaningfully obey the call of Psalm 40: 8-9: “Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will!”
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “May I escape the fetid swill / of not living by God’s Will.”
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