Daily Readings - Tue Jan 11 2022
1 Samuel
9After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.11And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."12As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine from you."15But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."17Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him."18And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."
Mark
21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,24"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God."25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of faith and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading, we encounter Hannah, a woman deeply troubled by her infertility and the mockery she endures. Her prayer is one of raw emotion and sincerity, pouring out her sorrow before the Lord. Despite Eli’s initial misunderstanding, Hannah’s persistence and faith are rewarded when God remembers her and blesses her with a son, Samuel, whom she dedicates back to God. This story reminds us of the power of prayer and the importance of trusting in God’s timing and plan, even in the midst of suffering.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus exercising His authority over the forces of evil. In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus teaches with authority, and when confronted by an unclean spirit, He commands it to leave. The people are amazed not only by His teaching but also by His power over the spiritual realm. This passage highlights Jesus’ divine authority and His mission to free humanity from the grip of sin and evil. It invites us to reflect on our own trust in Jesus’ power to transform our lives and to recognize the spiritual battles we face daily.
Both readings call us to a deeper trust in God. Like Hannah, we may face trials and uncertainties, but her example teaches us to bring our struggles to God with honesty and perseverance. Like the people in Capernaum, we are reminded of Jesus’ authority over all things, including the forces of darkness. Let us apply this to our daily lives by seeking God in prayer, trusting in His plan, and turning to Him for strength in our own struggles. May we, like Hannah and the people of Capernaum, find grace and liberation through our faith in God.