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A Reading from 1 Samuel 3: 1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.                                                                                                                                          

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.     Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ 

Eli and Samuel: John Singleton Copley

 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising

You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will thank you because I am marvellously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book;  they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.

How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

Adoration of the  Mystic Lamb: Van Eyck

A Reading from Revelation 5: 1-10

I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.’

Christ with his disciples: Olivier Ferdinand

Gospel Reading: St. John 1: 43-51

Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Nathaniel instantly recognises that Jesus is the Son of God. This was not what he was expecting when Philip urged him to come and meet the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Anyone connected with Nazareth, a non descript village half the size of Ryburgh, was considered to be of dubious character but as soon as Jesus addressed  Nathaniel as an individual, Nathaniel’s eyes were opened. The person he was seeing in front of him was one who knew him intimately as only God could do (see the Psalm). This person would embody the link between earth and Heaven and reassure God’s people that however bleak the outlook and whatever challenges we face, their Heavenly Father is always there with them.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many ways in which you reveal yourself to us: through the Scriptures, through the love of friends and family, through unexpected acts of kindness, through the written word and the arts, through the beauty of nature…… Help us to be receptive to your call and to respond to your love by responding to the needs of others.

• We pray for all who do not feel that their needs are being recognised at this time.
• We pray for all who are feeling overwhelmed by the impact of the virus.
• We pray for those who are taking important decisions on behalf of others.  
• We pray for those known to us who are in poor health, whether from the virus or from lack of medical attention, thinking of ..........................
• We pray for the repose of the souls of ............... and for the bereaved that they may receive strength and comfort as they come to terms with their loss.

          Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.