Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2020
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.1-8
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?
Psalm 116
1Alleluia. I have loved: therefore, the Lord will heed the voice of my prayer2For he has inclined his ear to me. And in my days, I will call upon him3The sorrows of death have surrounded me, and the perils of Hell have found me. I have found tribulation and sorrow4And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, free my soul5Merciful is the Lord, and just. And our God is compassionate6The Lord is the keeper of little ones. I was humbled, and he freed me7Turn again, my soul, to your rest. For the Lord has done good to you8For he has rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from slipping9I will please the Lord in the land of the living10Alleluia. I had confidence, because of what I was saying, but then I was greatly humbled11I said in my excess, "Every man is a liar.12What shall I repay to the Lord, for all the things that he has repaid to me13I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord14I will repay my vows to the Lord, in the sight of all his people15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones16O Lord, because I am your servant, your servant and the son of your handmaid, you have broken my bonds17I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will invoke the name of the Lord18I will repay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem
Gospel: Mark 1.14-20
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.