Daily Readings - Mon Jan 10 2022

¹Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:²And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.³And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.⁴And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:⁵But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.⁶And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.⁷And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.⁸Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

Mark

Chapter 1

¹⁴Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,¹⁵And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.¹⁶Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.¹⁷And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.¹⁸And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.¹⁹And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.²⁰And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after 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.