Daily Readings - Tue Jan 09 2024
1 Samuel
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
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 moments of faith and divine intervention. First, we hear the story of Hannah from the First Book of Samuel. Hannah, a woman deeply grieved by her childlessness, pours out her heart to God in the temple. Despite Eli’s initial misunderstanding, Hannah’s sincerity and trust in God are evident. Her prayer is not just a plea for a child but a vow to dedicate that child to the Lord. This story highlights the power of persistent and heartfelt prayer, as God remembers Hannah and grants her a son, Samuel, who would become a great leader in Israel.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus exercising His divine authority in the synagogue at Capernaum. A man possessed by an unclean spirit recognizes Jesus as the Holy One of God, and Jesus commands the spirit to depart. The people are amazed not only by the miracle but by the authority with which Jesus teaches and acts. This passage reminds us that Jesus’ power is not limited to physical healing but extends to the spiritual realm, freeing us from the grip of sin and evil.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. Hannah’s story teaches us that even in the midst of sorrow and struggle, we can approach God with honesty and hope. Jesus’ encounter with the man possessed by the unclean spirit shows us that God’s power is greater than any darkness we may face. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s providence, just as Hannah did, and to recognize the authority of Christ over all aspects of our lives. May we, like the people in Capernaum, be amazed by God’s power and drawn deeper into His love.