Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 306
Hannah rose after a meal at
Shiloh,
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.
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.
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
Psalm1 SAMUEL 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD
R. (see 1) My heart exults in the
Lord, my Savior.
“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.
“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.
Alleluia1 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.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his
followers,
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.
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.
Meditation: Jesus taught
with authority
Do
you believe that God's word has power to set you free and to transform your
life? When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no
one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their
statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with
delegated authority - "Thus says the Lord." When Jesus spoke
he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate -
the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even
the demons obeyed.
Faith
works through love and abounds in hope
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) remarked that "faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing. The devils confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. They said, 'What have we to do with you' (Mark 1:24)? They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils."
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) remarked that "faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing. The devils confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. They said, 'What have we to do with you' (Mark 1:24)? They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils."
Faith
is powerful, but without love it profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13). Scripture
tells us that true faith works through love (Galatians 5:6) and abounds in hope
(Romans 15:13). Our faith is made perfect in love because love orients us to
the supreme good which is God himself as well as the good of our neighbor who
is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26,27).
Hope
anchors our faith in the promises of God and purifies our desires for the
things which will last for eternity. That is why the word of Christ has power
to set us free from all that would keep us bound up in sin, deception, and
despair. Bede the venerable abbot of an English monastery (672-735) contrasted
the power and authority of Jesus' word with the word of the devil:
"The devil, because he had deceived Eve with his tongue, is punished by
the tongue, that he might not speak" [Homilies on the Gospels 1.8].
Faith
must be nourished with the Word of God
Faith is both a free gift of God and the free assent of our will to the whole truth that God has revealed. To live, grow, and persevere in the faith to the end, we must nourish it with the word of God. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds that we may grow in his truth and in the knowledge of his great love for each of us. If we approach God's word with trust and submission, and with an eagerness to do what the Lord desires for us, then we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your mind, heart, attitude, and intentions according to his word of truth, goodness, and love?
Faith is both a free gift of God and the free assent of our will to the whole truth that God has revealed. To live, grow, and persevere in the faith to the end, we must nourish it with the word of God. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds that we may grow in his truth and in the knowledge of his great love for each of us. If we approach God's word with trust and submission, and with an eagerness to do what the Lord desires for us, then we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your mind, heart, attitude, and intentions according to his word of truth, goodness, and love?
"Lord
Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your love and mercy, and
the power of your word that sets us free, and brings healing and restoration to
body, mind, heart, and spirit."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Knowing without loving, by
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Those
words show clearly that the demons had much knowledge, but entirely lacked
love. They dreaded receiving their punishment from him. They did not love the
righteousness that was in him. He made himself known to them to the extent he
willed; and he willed to be made known to the extent that was fitting. But he
was not made known to them as he is known to the holy angels, who enjoy
participation in his eternity, in that he is the Word of God. To the demons he
is known as he had to be made known, by striking terror into them, for his
purpose was to free from their tyrannical power all who were predestined for
his kingdom and glory, which is eternally true and truly eternal. Therefore, he
did not make himself known to the demons as the life eternal, and the
unchangeable light which illuminates his true worshipers, whose hearts are
purified by faith in him so that they see that light. He was known to the
demons through certain temporal effects of his power, the signs of his hidden
presence, which could be more evident to their senses, even those of malignant
spirits, than to the weak perception of human beings. (excerpt from CITY
OF GOD 9.21)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, MARK 1:21-28
Weekday
(1 Samuel 1:9-20; Psalm" 1 Samuel 2)
Weekday
(1 Samuel 1:9-20; Psalm" 1 Samuel 2)
KEY VERSE: "He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey
him" (v 27).
TO KNOW: The people were enthralled by the power of Jesus' words. When he was invited to teach in a synagogue in Capernaum, they marveled that he taught with the authority of the ancient prophets, not as the learned scribes whose message had no effect. Jesus not only spoke with authority — he acted with power! During the synagogue service a man, who was possessed by an "unclean spirit," shouted defiantly at Jesus. The demons acknowledged Jesus' power over the forces of evil, and they attempted to gain control of him by invoking the divine name -- the "Holy One of God." Just as Jesus would calm the raging waters (Mk 4:39), he rebuked the demons and ordered them to be silent. The people were astonished by Jesus' works, but they still did not understand his true identity. Nonetheless, Jesus' fame spread throughout the region of Galilee.
TO LOVE: Do I use the Holy Name of Jesus to speak against the powers of evil?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, you are my teacher and my healer.
TO KNOW: The people were enthralled by the power of Jesus' words. When he was invited to teach in a synagogue in Capernaum, they marveled that he taught with the authority of the ancient prophets, not as the learned scribes whose message had no effect. Jesus not only spoke with authority — he acted with power! During the synagogue service a man, who was possessed by an "unclean spirit," shouted defiantly at Jesus. The demons acknowledged Jesus' power over the forces of evil, and they attempted to gain control of him by invoking the divine name -- the "Holy One of God." Just as Jesus would calm the raging waters (Mk 4:39), he rebuked the demons and ordered them to be silent. The people were astonished by Jesus' works, but they still did not understand his true identity. Nonetheless, Jesus' fame spread throughout the region of Galilee.
TO LOVE: Do I use the Holy Name of Jesus to speak against the powers of evil?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, you are my teacher and my healer.
Tuesday 14 January 2020
1 Samuel 1:9-20. 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8. Mark 1:21-28.
My heart rejoices in the Lord, my Saviour – 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8
‘In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.’
My heart rejoices in the Lord, my Saviour – 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8
‘In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.’
Hannah did not hide her grief and despair from God, and she
turned to God in her anguish. How hard it sometimes is to tell God, and others,
that we are not actually OK, and to let ourselves be seen in our pain and
bitterness, at our most vulnerable. How hard it is to lay open that place of
deep vulnerability, of uncertainty, of anguish and hope against hope that maybe
things could be different. But we are told, time and time again, in different
parts of the Bible, in the experiences of those we know, and even in our own
experiences, that God does in fact hear our cries, weeps with us, and rejoices
over us. In our poverty, in our barrenness, in our desperation, we can turn to
a God who listens and remembers us, who can bring life to dry bones, who can
lift us from our despair, and who can turn barrenness into fruitfulness and
hopefulness.
Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Saint of the Day for January 14
(c. 325 – c. 390)
 |
| Stained glass of St. Gregory Nazianzen | Saint Leonard Faith Community, Centerville, Ohio | photo by Nheyob |
Saint Gregory Nazianzen’s Story
After his baptism at 30, Gregory gladly accepted his friend
Basil’s invitation to join him in a newly founded monastery. The solitude was
broken when Gregory’s father, a bishop, needed help in his diocese and estate.
It seems that Gregory was ordained a priest practically by force, and only
reluctantly accepted the responsibility. He skillfully avoided a schism that
threatened when his own father made compromises with Arianism. At 41, Gregory
was chosen suffragan bishop of Caesarea and at once came into conflict with
Valens, the emperor, who supported the Arians.
An unfortunate by-product of the battle was the cooling of the friendship
of two saints. Basil, his archbishop, sent him to a miserable and unhealthy
town on the border of unjustly created divisions in his diocese. Basil
reproached Gregory for not going to his see.
When protection for Arianism ended with the death of Valens,
Gregory was called to rebuild the faith in the great see of Constantinople,
which had been under Arian teachers for three decades. Retiring and sensitive,
he dreaded being drawn into the whirlpool of corruption and violence. He first
stayed at a friend’s home, which became the only orthodox church in the city.
In such surroundings, he began giving the great sermons on the Trinity for
which he is famous. In time, Gregory did rebuild the faith in the city, but at
the cost of great suffering, slander, insults, and even personal violence. An
interloper even tried to take over his bishopric.
His last days were spent in solitude and austerity. He wrote
religious poetry, some of it autobiographical, of great depth and beauty. He
was acclaimed simply as “the Theologian.”
Reflection
It may be small comfort, but post-Vatican II turmoil in the
Church is a mild storm compared to the devastation caused by the Arian heresy,
a trauma the Church has never forgotten. Christ did not promise the kind of
peace we would love to have—no problems, no opposition, no pain. In one way or
another, holiness is always the way of the cross.
Lectio Divina: Mark 1:21-28
Lectio Divina
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of love, hear our prayers.
Help us to know Your will
and to do it with courage and faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Help us to know Your will
and to do it with courage and faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, 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.
3) Reflection
• Sequence of the Gospels of the days of this week. Yesterday’s
Gospel informed us about the first activity of Jesus. He called four people to
form a community with them (Mk 1:16-10). Today’s Gospel describes admiration
for the teaching of Jesus (Mt 1:21-22) and the first miracle when He expels the
devil (Mk 1:23-28). The Gospel of tomorrow narrates the cure of Peter’s
mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31), the healing of many sick people (Mk 1:32-34) and
the prayer of Jesus in an isolated place (Mk 1:35-39). Mark gathers all of
these episodes which had been transmitted orally in the communities, joining
them together like bricks of a wall. In the years 70’s, the year in which he
writes, the communities needed orientation. By describing how Jesus began His
activity, Mark tells of what they should do to announce the Good News. Mark
gives them a catechesis by telling the communities about the events in the life
of Jesus.
• Jesus teaches with authority, differently from the way the
scribes do it. The first thing that the people perceive is the diverse way in
which Jesus teaches. It is not so much the content, but rather the way in which
He teaches that impresses the people. For this reason, by His different way,
Jesus creates a critical conscience in people concerning the religious
authority of that time. The people compare and say: He teaches with authority,
in a way different from the way the scribes do. The scribes of that time taught
quoting the authority. Jesus does not quote any authority. He speaks with
His experience of God and of His life. His word is rooted in the heart.
• You have come to destroy us! In Mark, the first miracle is the
expulsion of the devil. Jesus struggles and expels the power of evil that takes
possession of people and alienates them from themselves. The man possessed by
the devil shouts: “I know who You are: You are the Holy One of God!” The man
repeated the official teaching which presented the Messiah as the “Holy One of
God”, as a High Priest, or like a King, Judge, Doctor or General. Even today,
many people live alienated from themselves, deceived by the power of mass
media, mass communication, and the advertising of business. They repeat what
they hear others say. They live as slaves of consumerism, oppressed by the
power of money, and threatened by debtors. Many think that their life is not as
it should be if they cannot buy what the advertising recommends.
• Jesus rebuked the evil spirit: “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
The spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.
Jesus restores the person to himself. He gives him back his conscience and his
liberty. He makes the person recover his complete judgment (cf. Mk 5:15). It
was not easy then, it was not easy yesterday, and it is not easy today to do
this in such a way that a person begins to think and act in a way which diverges
from the official ideology.
• A new teaching! He commands even the evil spirits. The first
two signs of the Good News are these: His different way of teaching the things
of God, and His power over evil spirits. Jesus opens a new road in order for
people to attain purity. At that time, a person who was declared impure could
not present himself/herself before God to pray and to receive the blessing
promised by God to Abraham. He/she should first purify himself/herself. These
and many other laws and norms made the life of people very difficult and
marginalized many people who were considered impure and far from God. Now,
purified by the contact with Jesus, people could present themselves before God.
This was a great Good News!
4) Personal questions
• Can I really say: “I am fully free, master of myself? If I
cannot say it of myself, then something in me is possessed by other powers.
What do I do to expel this strange power?
• Today many people do not live, do not think, but rather are driven by mass media. They do not have a critical mind or way of thinking. They allow other masters into their lives. How can this “devil” be expelled?
• Today many people do not live, do not think, but rather are driven by mass media. They do not have a critical mind or way of thinking. They allow other masters into their lives. How can this “devil” be expelled?
5) Concluding prayer
Yahweh our Lord,
how majestic is Your name throughout the world!
What are human beings that You spare a thought for them,
or the child of Adam that You care for him? (Ps 8,1.4)
how majestic is Your name throughout the world!
What are human beings that You spare a thought for them,
or the child of Adam that You care for him? (Ps 8,1.4)
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