Daily Readings - Wed Dec 22 2021

²⁴And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child²⁵And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli²⁶And Hannah said: "I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord²⁷I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him²⁸Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord." And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said

Luke

Chapter 1

⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord⁴⁷And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour⁴⁸For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed⁴⁹For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name⁵⁰And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him⁵¹He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart⁵²He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty⁵⁴He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy⁵⁵just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.⁵⁶Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories of faith, trust, and surrender to God’s will. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, Hannah, who had been barren, fulfills her vow to the Lord by bringing her young son Samuel to the temple at Shiloh. She hands him over to Eli, the priest, dedicating him to God’s service. This act of surrender is rooted in her deep gratitude for the gift of Samuel, whom she had prayed for and promised to lend back to the Lord. Hannah’s prayer reflects her humility and recognition of God’s providence in her life. In the Gospel, we hear Mary’s Magnificat, a beautiful hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Mary, too, recognizes the greatness of God’s work in her life, acknowledging His mercy and the transformative power of His justice. She rejoices in the humility of her state as a handmaid of the Lord, knowing that God’s plan is one of love and redemption for all people. Both Hannah and Mary exemplify a profound trust in God’s plan, even when it involves surrendering what is dearest to them. Hannah gives up her only son, while Mary accepts the extraordinary and life-altering role of bearing the Son of God. Their stories remind us that true faith is not about holding on to what we have, but about letting go and trusting in God’s goodness. The readings also highlight the theme of humility and the reversal of fortunes—God exalting the lowly and filling the hungry with good things, as Mary so eloquently proclaims. This is a recurring theme in Scripture, one that challenges us to re-examine our own hearts and lives. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to surrender our lives, our plans, and our desires to God’s will? Do we trust Him enough to let go of control and embrace His providence? Like Hannah and Mary, we are called to live with humility and gratitude, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. May we, like these two women, magnify the Lord with our lives, trusting that His mercy and love will guide us through all the joys and challenges we face. In doing so, we become instruments of His grace, living out the faith that transforms hearts and changes the world.