Daily Readings - Tue Jan 14 2020

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

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 stories that highlight the power of faith and divine intervention. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of Hannah, a woman deeply sorrowful due to her inability to bear a child. Her fervent prayer in the temple, misunderstood by Priest Eli, showcases her unwavering faith. Despite her emotional state, Hannah's prayer is heard, and she conceives Samuel, whom she dedicates to God. This narrative underscores the importance of persistent and heartfelt prayer, even in the face of adversity. The Gospel reading from Mark presents Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. His authoritative teaching astonishes the people, and He demonstrates His divine power by casting out an unclean spirit. This miracle not only establishes Jesus' authority but also spreads His fame, illustrating the immediate impact of His ministry. The connection between the two readings lies in their depiction of divine intervention—Hannah's prayer is answered, and Jesus' authority over evil spirits is revealed. These stories encourage us to approach our challenges with faith and prayer. Like Hannah, we should trust in God's plan and seek His intervention with perseverance. Jesus' authority reminds us of God's power to transform our lives. As we navigate our own struggles, let us draw strength from these examples, trusting that our prayers are heard and that God's power is ever-present. May we, like Hannah and the people of Capernaum, find hope and transformation through our faith in God.