Reading 1 1 Sm 1:9-20
and presented herself before the LORD;
at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair
near the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously,
and she made a vow, promising: “O LORD of hosts,
if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid,
if you remember me and do not forget me,
if you give your handmaid a male child,
I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives;
neither wine nor liquor shall he drink,
and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
As she remained long at prayer before the LORD,
Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently;
though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.
Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her,
“How long will you make a drunken show of yourself?
Sober up from your wine!”
“It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered.
“I am an unhappy woman.
I have had neither wine nor liquor;
I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.
Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well;
my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”
Eli said, “Go in peace,
and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left.
She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband,
and no longer appeared downcast.
Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD,
and then returned to their home in Ramah.
When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah,
the LORD remembered her.
She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.
Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
Alleluia See 1 Thes 2:13
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 1:21-28
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “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!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
A SETTLEMENT
"Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him." –1 Samuel 1:17
Because of her barrenness, Hannah had been downcast for years. Finally, she thought it was time to settle the matter. "In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, and she made a vow" (1 Sm 1:10-11). This broke the gridlock. Hannah conceived and bore a son (1 Sm 1:20).
King Hezekiah was being terrorized by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. Finally, he took a nasty letter from Sennacherib, "went up to the temple of the Lord, and spreading it out before Him, he prayed to the Lord" (Is 37:14-15). In a short time, Sennacherib went back to his country, where he was murdered by two of his sons (Is 37:38).
A "girl who had a clairvoyant spirit" followed Paul around for several days. "Finally Paul became annoyed, turned around, and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you, come out of her!' Then and there the spirit left her" (Acts 16:16, 18).
Paul "was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan" (2 Cor 12:7). Through prayer, Paul tried to settle the matter twice. On the third try, it was settled. The thorn was not removed, but Paul was no longer confused about this situation. It was settled in his mind; he was content (2 Cor 12:10).
As you begin this new year, you will have to leave some things unresolved, but certain things can be settled. Ask the Lord to show you His will. Start the new year without any unnecessary problems. "Lose no time" (see Mt 5:25). Settle it now.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I not let certain things go on unnecessarily. |
| PROMISE: | "A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority! He gives orders to unclean spirits and they obey!" –Mk 1:27 |
| PRAISE: | St. Marguerite developed one of the first uncloistered religious communities, devoted to educating poor children. |
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