A reading from the first book of Samuel.

The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the Temple where the Ark of God was.  God called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”  He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.”  Eli said, “I did not call you.  Go back to sleep.”  So he went back to sleep.

Again God called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.  “Here I am,” he said, “You called me.”  But Eli answered, “I did not call you, Samuel.  Go back to sleep.”  At that time Samuel had no knowledge of God, nor had God’s word been revealed to him as yet.

God called Samuel again, for the third time.  Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.  You called me.”  Then Eli understood that God was calling the youth.  So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are

called, reply, ‘Speak, O God, for your devoted one is listening.’ ”

When Samuel went back to sleep in his place, Our God came and stood by, calling out, “Samuel, Samuel!”  Samuel answered, “Speak, O God, for your devoted one is listening.”  Samuel grew, and God was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

The Word of God recorded in the first book of Samuel.