Daily Readings - Mon Jan 13 2020

¹There was a certain man from Ramah of Zophim, on Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite²And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. And Peninnah had sons. But Hannah did not have children³And this man went up from his city, on the established days, so that he might adore and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the Lord, were in that place⁴Then the day arrived, and Elkanah immolated. And he gave portions to his wife Peninnah, and to all her sons and daughters⁵But to Hannah he gave one portion with sorrow. For he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb⁶And her rival afflicted her and vehemently distressed her, to a great extent, for she rebuked her that the Lord had closed her womb⁷And she did so every year, when the time returned for them to ascend to the temple of the Lord. And she provoked her in this way. And so, she wept and did not take food⁸Therefore, her husband Elkanah said to her: "Hannah, why are you weeping? And why do you not eat? And for what reason do you afflict your heart? Am I not better to you than ten sons?

Mark

Chapter 1

¹⁴Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God¹⁵and saying: "For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.¹⁶And passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew, casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen¹⁷And Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.¹⁸And at once abandoning their nets, they followed him¹⁹And continuing on a little ways from there, he saw James of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were mending their nets in a boat²⁰And immediately he called them. And leaving behind their father Zebedee in the boat with his hired hands, they followed him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God’s providence. The first reading from 1 Samuel introduces us to Hannah, a woman deeply grieved by her infertility, yet steadfast in her trust in God. Despite the pain of being childless and the taunts of her rival, Hannah turns to the Lord in prayer, pouring out her heart to Him. Her husband, Elkanah, though well-meaning, cannot fully understand her sorrow, but he reminds her of his love and support. This story sets the stage for the miraculous birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel’s history. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the call of the first disciples. Jesus, having just begun His ministry, encounters Simon, Andrew, James, and John by the Sea of Galilee. With a simple invitation, “Come after me,” Jesus calls them to leave behind their familiar lives as fishermen and embark on a new journey of faith. Without hesitation, they follow Him, demonstrating an extraordinary trust in God’s plan. These readings, though separated by centuries, share a common theme: the call to trust in God’s timing and plan, even when the path is uncertain. Hannah’s story reminds us that our struggles and sorrows are not beyond God’s notice. Her perseverance in prayer and her refusal to lose hope in the face of infertility and mockery show us how to trust in God’s providence, even when His timing seems slow. Similarly, the disciples in the Gospel demonstrate an immediate and total response to Jesus’ call. They leave behind the security of their nets and their families, trusting that following Him will lead to something greater. Their willingness to step into the unknown reflects the kind of faith that God desires from us. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s invitations in our own lives? Do we, like Hannah, trust in God’s plan even when we feel afflicted or misunderstood? Or do we, like the disciples, have the courage to leave behind the familiar and follow Jesus without looking back? These stories challenge us to deepen our faith and to trust that God is always at work, even in the midst of uncertainty. May we, like Hannah and the disciples, surrender our lives to God’s will, knowing that He will fulfill His promises in His own time.