Theme: The Lord sends his spokesmen to speak words of judgment against religious authorities. In the 1 Samuel text from the Revised Common Lectionary God speaks out against the corruption under Eli. In the Gospel Jesus challenges the common understanding of the Sabbath, which leads to Jesus' condemnation of the powers that be.

COMMENTARY

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-20
This pericope continues the story of Samuel from 2:26. The text begins with a statement about the spiritual poverty of Israelites under the priest Eli, who is old and has lost control of his sons. "The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread" (v. 1). The word for word and vision is essentially the same word. According to tradition, Samuel was 12 years of age. Similarities are apparent between th…