By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I am sure many of us know of the calling of the great prophet Samuel. His mother Hannah was suffering from infertility and promised the priest Eli if she conceived a son, she would give him to the Lord.
God answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel, whom she gave to Eli in the service of the Lord. It was Samuel who anointed David King of Israel.
When Samuel was a boy and sleeping not far from the Ark of the Covenant, he heard the voice of the Lord for the first time. Three times, after hearing his name in the middle of the night, he thought it was Eli. When Eli realized it was the Lord God calling Samuel, he informed the boy that the next time he heard his name called to respond, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears” (1 Sam 3:9).
The normal way we hear the word of God the Father is through the written word in the scriptures. The Word of the Father, of course is God the Son.
When we listen to the readings and Gospel at Mass, or when we read the Bible, do we also hear what we are listening to or reading? Do we truly hear with a humble heart? It is only in a humble heart that God the Holy Spirit can work.
Studies show that a woman who is a victim of domestic violence will, after leaving, return to her abuser seven times before she leaves for good. Most of the time, when a lady comes to St. Gianna’s, she has left the last time. However, this is not always the case.
Last year, we accepted a woman who has experienced years of emotional and physical violence at the hands of an abusive man. She was admitted to St. Gianna’s. Her happiness after moving in was short-lived, for her abuser sweet-talked her into returning. As you can imagine, the abuse escalated dramatically.
Recently, she finally mustered enough courage to finally leave, but not before her car was disabled and her keys stolen. I suggested calling the sheriff’s department and, with the help of a deputy, she retrieved her car and a few belongings. She now has a new job and place of her own. Because of the generosity of our supporters, we are now furnishing her new house with furniture, household items and other essentials that make a house a home.
She said that after experiencing more than years of abuse she is finally free. She said she could never have left without the grace from the sacraments, and the help of CSS.
Helping this woman was only possible because our benefactors have through the years not only listened to the Word of the Lord but have heard and responded to it, for truly, one cannot separate the love of God from the love of neighbor. We are most grateful to our loving donors who support us spiritually, materially and financially. St. Samuel, pray for us!
