1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20 / Mark 1:29-39
When we talk about communication, it may be necessary to also understand what are the principles of communication.
Because when we have the right principles, then we would be able to handle the topic and achieve what it requires.
When it comes to communication, some of the principles might be clarity, coherency, detailed, and being concise and precise.
Very often, miscommunication and misunderstanding happens when the basic principles of communication are not adhered to.
The 1st reading might seem to be like some kind of comic miscommunication.
The young Samuel heard a voice, went running to Eli, who was initially puzzled until he realized that it was the Lord who was calling the boy.
So it seems that as much as the Lord does not miscommunicate, it is us who misunderstand what the message is.
But for the young Samuel, it was an initiation into the way that the Lord communicates with him and he went on to be a prophet. And a prophet essentially is one who listens to the voice of the Lord.
As for the disciples of Jesus in the gospel, they have yet to learn whose voice it is that they must listen to.
They were listening to the voices of "everybody" and hence they told Jesus that "everybody" is looking for Him.
Amidst the loud voices of this world, the voice of the Lord is like the sound of a gentle breeze (1 Kings 19:12) and yet the voice of the Lord is full of power and full of splendour (Ps 29:4)
When we have learnt to listen to the voice of the Lord, we will also learn how to communicate with others.