Daily Readings - Mon Jan 10 2022

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the call to follow God. In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we meet Hannah, a woman deeply grieved by her infertility and the taunts of her rival, Peninnah. Despite her sorrow, Hannah turns to the Lord in prayer, trusting in His providence and mercy. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, God is near, and our struggles can deepen our relationship with Him. The context of this story is important—it sets the stage for the birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel’s history who would later anoint kings and lead the people in faith. In the Gospel, we see a very different scene as Jesus begins His public ministry. After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus proclaims the Good News: the kingdom of God is at hand. He calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John—simple fishermen—to leave everything behind and follow Him. Their immediate response is striking; they abandon their nets and their livelihoods to pursue a life of discipleship. This passage emphasizes the urgency of repentance and belief in the Gospel. Jesus’ call is not just an invitation to a new idea but a radical transformation of life. The context here is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and it highlights the central message of His preaching: the kingdom of God is near, and it demands a response. Both readings challenge us to consider how we respond to God’s call in our own lives. Hannah’s story teaches us about trusting in God’s plan even when it seems unclear or painful. The Gospel reminds us that following Jesus requires surrender and a willingness to let go of what holds us back. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when we face difficulties, and to be open to the ways He invites us to follow Him. May we, like Hannah and the first disciples, have the courage to place our faith in God and to respond generously to His call.