It is 13th January 2016. We celebrate the memorial of St. Hilary, the Bishop and the Doctor of the Church. The readings are from 1Sam.3:1-10, 19-20 and the Gospel from 29-39. The first reading narrates the call of Samuel. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” (1 Sam.3:10). God calls us always. It is our disposition that matters to listen to God. Listening could be very painful, time consuming, frustrating and sometimes boring when there is no love. Being in the presence physically and to be open to the subtle voice of the Lord and to feel movements of God’s spirit is the ones accredits us to do the will of God. We too attune ourselves to listen and respond to the call of God constantly. The responsorial Psalm presents, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.” (Ps.39:9). The Gospel brings out the healing touch of Jesus and the power of personal prayer. Jesus teaches us all that our personal intimacy with the Father is the basis for healing and being with the people. When we have mastered being with the Lord, we will have no difficulty in being with people. Yes, indeed we are invited to act on God’s behalf in our communities. Being with God matters is the basic and foundational requirement for our being with the people. It is through such sacred and intimate time with God we are endowed with wisdom and strength to accomplish things God wants us to do. A time will come in our lives too like, “everyone is looking for you,” (Mk.1:37), while God is still looking for us one to one basis. May God give us peace to face God in every move we make.