Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by His hand: come, let us adore Him, alleluia.

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

From our earliest days, O God, You call us by name. Make our ears attentive to Your voice, our spirits eager to respond, that, having heard You in Jesus Your anointed one, we may draw others to be His disciples. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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A Reading from the Old testament: 1 Samuel 3:3-10 (NLT)

The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”

“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.

Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”

Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”

Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
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As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10 (NLT)

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
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Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.
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Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Cor 6:13-15, 17-20 (NLT)

You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.

Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!

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But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Jn 1:35-42 (NLT)

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”.

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John — but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
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Intercessions:

Gracious and merciful God, who calls to us in the night: hear the cries of our hearts –

+ For all baptised believers — that we may answer the call to follow Jesus daily….
Lord, hear us.
+ For unity among believers — that our closeness to Jesus may draw us closer to each other….
Lord, hear us.
+ For migrants and refugees — that in our hospitality, they may experience God’s compassion….
Lord, hear us.
+ For believers suffering persecution — that people of good will around the world may stand up for them and protect their rights….
Lord, hear us.
+ For parents and teachers — that by our words and actions, we may point out the Lamb of God….
Lord, hear us.
+ For the elderly and all who are lonely — that they may have our support in these days of winter….
Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have died in Christ – that God who delivered Jesus from death may raise them to eternal life….
Lord, hear us.
+ For those who we love who weigh heavily on our hearts – that they may listen to Your call to them, turn, and follow You….
Lord, hear us.

+ God our creator, You stoop down to hear our cry: grant our petitions, we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen