Theme: The call of God. The boy Samuel had to be taught not only to hear the call of God but to recognize the call as coming from God and respond affirmatively. In the Second Lesson, the Corinthian Christians had to be made to realize that they must respond to Christ's call not only with their minds but also their bodies. In the Gospel, Christ calls his first disciples.

COMMENTARY

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
The young Samuel has been apprenticed to the elderly priest, Levi, and is sleeping near the place where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Three times the lad hears his name called and, thinking it was Levi, goes to him. By the third time, Levi realizes that the Lord was calling to Samuel and instructs him to respond: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" the next time …