December 26th Reflection by Bill Lynch

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
The Child Samuel at Shiloh

 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, ‘May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord’; and then they would return to their home.

 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people.

Reflection
A child given to God. Elkanah was blessed with Samuel. Samuel was God's gift of a son to Elkanah and Hannah. When Hannah asked God for a son, she dedicated her son to God as a child. Samuel grew up with the priest Eli at the Temple.

Each year Elkanah and Hannah would come to the Temple to offer the yearly sacrifice, Hannah would bring a small garment to be used as a robe for Samuel. This garment was a linen ephod. Eli would bless the couple and they would return home.

This passage reminds me of the way God nurtures us in our faith walk. God comes to us and we believe in God. As we grow in faith we grow in stature. We desire to dig deep into our relationship with God. We seek our purpose and the Holy Spirit points us towards that purpose. We live our lives for God and give ourselves up. It's not only a yearly offering but rather an offering of our life to God.

Through the realization of God's gift of Jesus, his life, ministry, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension; we respond in love towards God and love towards one another. This response results in giving our lives to God, gladly and freely. The response is a glad moment followed by an eternity of life with God.

God offered his Son, Jesus, to live with us. An eternity of relationship between God and people was dedicated in Jesus coming to this earth. We have received this gift of faith and grow. What a gift! What a joy! What a life! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I dedicate my life to you. You have given Jesus into this world to show us the way, the truth and the life. Bring all people to believe and follow, today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen