Daily Readings - Tue Jan 09 2018

First Reading - 1 Samuel 1.9-20

⁹And so, after she ate and drank at Shiloh, Hannah rose up. And Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat before the door of the temple of the Lord¹⁰And since Hannah was bitter in soul, she prayed to the Lord, weeping greatly¹¹And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord of hosts, if, in looking with favor, you will see the affliction of your servant and will remember me, and will not forget your handmaid, and if you will give to your servant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall pass over his head.¹²Then it happened that, while she multiplied prayers before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth¹³For Hannah was speaking in her heart, and only her lips moved, and her voice was barely heard. Therefore, Eli considered her to be drunk¹⁴and so he said to her: "How long will you be inebriated? You should take only a little wine, but instead you are drenched.¹⁵Responding, Hannah said: "By no means, my lord. For I am an exceedingly unhappy woman, and I drank neither wine, nor anything that can inebriate. Instead, I have poured out my soul in the sight of the Lord¹⁶You should not repute your handmaid as one of the daughters of Belial. For I have been speaking from the abundance of my sorrow and grief, even until now.¹⁷Then Eli said to her: "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel grant to you your petition, which you have begged of him.¹⁸And she said, "I wish that your handmaid may find grace in your eyes." And the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her countenance was no longer changed for the worse¹⁹And they rose up in the morning, and they worshipped before the Lord. And they returned and arrived at their own house at Ramah. Then Elkanah knew his wife Hannah. And the Lord remembered her²⁰And it happened that, in the course of days, Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, because she had requested him from the Lord

Gospel - Mark 1.21-28

Mark

Chapter 1

²¹And they entered into Capernaum. And entering into the synagogue promptly on the Sabbaths, he taught them²²And they were astonished over his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like the scribes²³And in their synagogue, there was a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out²⁴saying: "What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.²⁵And Jesus admonished him, saying, "Be silent, and depart from the man.²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, departed from him²⁷And they were all so amazed that they inquired among themselves, saying: "What is this? And what is this new doctrine? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.²⁸And his fame went out quickly, throughout the entire region of Galilee

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and divine intervention. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of Hannah, a woman deeply troubled by her infertility, who pours out her heart to God in prayer. Her vow to dedicate her future child to the Lord is a testament to her unwavering trust in God's plan. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus teaching with authority in the synagogue, where He casts out an unclean spirit, demonstrating His divine power over evil. These readings, though separated by time, share a common theme of trust and faith in God. Hannah's personal struggle and prayer reflect the human experience of seeking God's help in times of distress. Conversely, Jesus' public display of authority highlights His role as the divine savior, capable of overcoming even the darkest forces. Together, they illustrate the consistent message of trusting in God's providence, whether in personal struggles or in the broader battle against evil. In our daily lives, we can draw strength from Hannah's persistence and Jesus' authority. When faced with personal challenges, we are reminded to turn to prayer with the same sincerity and trust that Hannah exhibited. Recognizing Jesus' authority over all aspects of life, including our spiritual struggles, gives us confidence to face any adversity. Let us reflect on how we can emulate Hannah's faith and trust in God's plan, allowing Jesus' authority to guide us through life's trials.