Daily Readings - Mon Jan 10 2022

¹There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.²He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.³Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.⁴Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.⁵But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.⁶And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.⁷This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.⁸Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

Mark

Chapter 1

¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.¹⁵"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.¹⁷"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and 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.