Daily Readings - Wed Dec 22 2021
1 Samuel
24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young.25Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.26And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.27For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.28Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."And he worshiped the LORD there.
Luke
46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
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.