1 Samuel 2:12-26 · Eli’s Wicked Sons
The Boy Grows Up
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Sermon
by Mary S. Lautensleger
Loading...

Each of us faces the choice of who and what we will become. Sometimes, we don't really know what we want to be when we grow up until we are forty-something. Our earliest models for making that choice are the people who raise and nurture us. Although we identify with the adults whom we admire most, each of us is unique and intended to become "our own person."

Occasionally there is a family-owned business and we are expected to carry on in that tradition, or to choose the vocation of one of our parents. Heredity and environment influence who we become, but they do not determine it. Ultimately, we must make the choices about how we will live.

Children benefit greatly from contact with other adults, including friends, relatives, and teachers who show love and model appropriate behavior for them. The child who receives the love and care of adults beyond his or her own home is truly blessed. And, blessed are the adults who recognize that it does take a village to raise a child.

Every adult is responsible for nurturing and mentoring the next generation. Corrie ten Boom once remarked that, "God has no grandchildren." Each of us is responsible for bringing children to church and sharing with them that old, old story. Some adults, like teachers and coaches, provide nurturing formally. Others do it informally as trusted friends who never hesitate to stoop to greet a child, just as Jesus would have.

Before the days of widespread formal education, families frequently apprenticed their children to skilled workers who taught them a trade. Today, many companies and churches have intern or mentoring programs modeled on those very relationships. These programs prepare our young people to adapt to their changing world by providing unique experiences and opportunities. They develop our youth morally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually in a way that is consistent with becoming responsible and productive individuals.

Saint Benedict designed a set of rules for ordinary young Christians to live by, not necessarily for those who chose a cloistered lifestyle. The rules are patterned on living out biblical values such as prayer and service to neighbors within our community.

Listen carefully, my [sons and daughters], to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is the advice from [one] who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. When you begin a good work ... pray earnestly to bring it to perfection.1

The words of Saint Benedict could well have echoed the words of the priest, Eli, to his young charge, Samuel. Eli is present in the temple at Shiloh when Samuel's mother, Hannah, is praying for her heart's desire, a son. Her inability to have a child is breaking her heart. She promises God that if she has a son, she will give him back to God to serve in the temple at Shiloh. Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, would journey annually to Shiloh to worship and to offer their sacrifices, since God is present in a special way in worship.

Hannah does give birth to a son and names him Samuel. When he is old enough, she brings her son, an immense personal sacrifice, to live in Shiloh to be mentored by Eli. The sons of Eli had none of their father's honorable qualities, but God provides Eli with a second chance through his relationship with Samuel.

Every year, Hannah makes a little robe for Samuel, complete with a linen ephod, a symbol of the holy office of the priesthood. She and her husband, Elkanah, take the robe to him when they go to Shiloh for their yearly sacrifice. For Hannah, this is also a renewal of her sacrifice of Samuel to God's work.

Centuries later, another family travels from Nazareth to the Jerusalem temple every spring for the Passover Festival, to remember how God had saved his people from slavery in Egypt. Passover lasts seven days and is a great break from school and work. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph join the throng of Passover pilgrims. Jesus is twelve and old enough to participate in the ritual bar mitzvah. At age thirteen, he will be considered a young man.

Leaving Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph assume that Jesus is with friends or other relatives who are traveling companions. When this proves wrong, they return to Jerusalem and discover Jesus discussing scripture with teachers in the temple. While he is giving his parents the fright of their lives, Jesus is amazing these teachers with his knowledge. Jesus must be in his Father's house. Like Hannah, Mary understands that her son's life will be dedicated to God, and to bringing reconciliation and peace.

In contemporary society, both adults and young people are unbelievably busy. Never have there been so many choices when it comes to activities and use of our time. In the 1970s song, "The Cat's in the Cradle," a boy continually requests time with his dad. At various stages of his childhood and teen years, the son asks, "When're you coming home, Dad?" Each time the father replies, "I don't know when, but we'll get together then." When the dad finally has time for his son, the son is busy and has no time for his father. Then, when the father asks his adult son, "When're you coming home, Son?" his son replies, "I don't know when, but we'll get together then."

Unfortunately, this tragedy happens with mothers, too. They are so busy with careers, social, or volunteer activities, or making the home perfect, that they have no quality time for relationships. Deciding what is ultimately important in life can make all the difference in the world.2

Melanie was awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night. It could only be bad news at that hour. When the medical examiner identified himself, she expected the worst. She felt her world had ended when he told her that her teenage son had been murdered. The horrifying childhood memories of watching her mother and older sister being shot to death flooded back.

Dragging herself through months of pain and heartache, Melanie fielded calls from the police department about various suspects until the news of the killer's apprehension finally came. Eventually she found it in her heart to forgive the young murderer and wrote a letter telling him that she had forgiven him. He responded to her correspondence, and a relationship was begun. Today, that young man calls her "Mom."3

As a part of her grief work and healing process, Melanie began a program called "Mentoring  Touch From Above" for teens who have been in trouble with the law and are at risk. She encourages them to finish their education and teaches them the "people skills" they will need for getting along with others in this world. She gives constant encouragement and hope to young people who may never have experienced a caring adult before. And, there are many more young people today who call Melanie "Mom."

Melanie has mentored many troubled youths, giving them a chance at opportunities they would never have had otherwise. In turn, the young people she has ministered to have helped her in the healing process as she discovers and lives out God's call on her life. She also has the reward of seeing her mentees becoming productive members of society.

On another front, Jason was frequently in trouble, and was ordered to perform ten hours of community service. He ended up at Tree Musketeers, a youth environmental and leadership organization. Jason had sinking grades, feelings of depression, and an attitude a mile wide. Let's just say that the staff at Tree Musketeers endured Jason for his ten hours of work, and breathed a great sigh of relief after he was gone.

It wasn't long before the organization received a call that Jason was being punished with five more volunteer hours. Reluctantly, they took him back as they were launching a community-wide recycling program. Jason was assigned to a sixteen-year-old "volunteer supervisor." They had to give the supervisor double credits for volunteer hours in order to get him to work with Jason.

During those five hours, Jason learned how to explain recycling to residents and worked as a team member with the other kids. Much to everyone's surprise, Jason began to enjoy working at Tree Musketeers. He felt he had something to contribute and announced that he wanted to come back. The executive director said, "Sure, Jason, come back whenever you want to," but doubted he would.

A week later, there was Jason on their doorstep. The staff sat down with him and drew up a plan and schedule for him to volunteer for tree plantings and community education. Amazingly, he stuck to it and proved to be an enthusiastic worker. He adopted a desk as his own and frequently "hung out" in the office.

For the first time in his life, Jason felt like a responsible person who had something to contribute to society. Tree Musketeers was founded by eight-year-olds in 1987, and the organization believes that kids can do anything they set their minds to.

Jason helped care for trees, became a tree-planting supervisor, did data entry, ran errands, responded to children's letters, and even assisted with fundraising. He wrote the cover letter in support of a government grant for $63,000, which Tree Musketeers received. Jason's first speaking engagement was to city council. Everyone cheered as he finished, and the mayor said he expected Jason to hold his office in the future.

Jason was elected president of Tree Musketeers and even flew to Seattle to present a workshop at a national conference. There had been a time in the not-too-distant past when Jason felt he was worthless, and he acted like it. But, what had begun as punishment for a troublemaker turned into 787 hours of volunteer service that changed both a community and a young life.4

True mentors are a life-affirming source of guidance and inspiration. They are "artists of encouragement," who help us discover what is unique about our lives and encourage us to pursue it. These spiritual guides are all around us, waiting to give generously of themselves. God has gifted you with talents and abilities you can share with others. Reach out to another individual and change a life. One person at a time over your lifetime will ultimately change the world we live in. God is calling you to make a difference in the new year, right where you are planted.


1. Jerome Theisen, "About the Rule of Saint Benedict," http://www.osb.org/gen/rule.html [Accessed September 1, 2005].

2. Glen Martin, Beyond the Rat Race (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, l995), p. 24.

3. Melanie Washington, "Mentoring A Touch From Above," http://www.matfa.org/about.htm#founder [Accessed September 1, 2005].

4. Jack Canfield, et. al., Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul: Stories to Celebrate the Spirit of Courage, Caring and Community (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc., 2002), pp. 237-239.

CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Shoots of Tomorrow, by Mary S. Lautensleger