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 as  soon  as  you  are  called? Do you  take  to  heart  their  injunctions and  exhortations? Are you  more  like  Samuel,  or  the  sons of Heli?

How do  you  behave  during  the  services  of  the  Church? Do you like  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  or  do  you  feel  an  aversion to sermons  and  try  to  escape  them  by  merely  hearing  a Mass? Do you  assist  at  the  afternoon  or  evening  services?

AMUEL having  grown  old  appointed  his  two  sons  as  Judges over Israel. They, however,  were  not  just  and  God-fearing  like their father,  but  took  bribes  and  perverted  judgment. So the  ancients came  to  Samuel  and  said:  "Thy  sons  walk  not  in  thy  ways; therefore  give  us  a king  to  judge  us,  as  all  nations  have.”  This word  was  displeasing  to  Samuel,  for  he  knew  that  the  Lord  was their  king,  and  none  other.  Still  the  Lord  told  him  to  hearken to  the  voice  of  the  people,  and  to  give  them  a king  for  their punishment.  Moreover,  he  added,  the  king  would  rule  over  them with  a heavy  hand,  and  they  would  cry  out  and  lament,  but  the Lord  would  not  hear  them,  because  they  had  desired  for  themselves a king.

Now there  was  a man  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  who  lost his asses,  and  he  said  to  Saul,  his  son:  “Take  one  of  the  servants with thee,  and  arise,  go,  and  seek  the  asses.”  So  they  both  started out, seeking  the  asses;  and  not  being  able  to  find  them  anywhere,