Greetings on this the Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Sm 1:9-20; 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd; Mk 1:21-28
Pouring out my troubles
In today’s first reading Hannah pours our her troubles in prayer before the Lord in the temple. 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.” It is right and good to pray for yourself. It is right and good to our out your sorrows before the Lord. Have faith the Divine will answer with a marvelous and wonderful answer.
Hannah’s son is Samuel, the last and greatest of all the Judges who eventually anoints the first two Kings of Israel: Saul and David.
Summary
Samuel sits in a unique position in the divine-human history. He is a transitional figure between the period of Judges to the period of the Monarchy. And yet so much more. The Lord knew the prayer of Hannah. Eli, the prophet, is the intercessor for her and validates her person and prayer, even if he did not at first know her story properly having, at first, judged her drunk and making a fool of herself.
In our gospel reading we have another, unnamed person pouring out their troubles. The man with the unclean spirit was in the temple when Jesus taught with authority. You may wonder, as I do too, did the man come to the synagogue under his own power and authority or under the influence of the evil spirit? Or, one may ask, is there a convergence of place with difference in goals. The evil spirit wanted to wreck harm and dilute the effects of the power and authority of Jesus. The man so possessed had his own purpose, to be set free. The demon speaks for himself: What have you to do with us? The man possessed has the silent question: What can you to do for me?
Reflection
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!” Hostility and denial of common interest. That is in fact true. Jesus will assert his purpose and his peace. Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. The man was saved from his affliction without uttering a word. The demon was expelled without effective counter.
The early exorcism performed by Jesus was an establishing event where the one teaching teaches not just with apparent authority but with actual authority and power. We should listen to him. And, secondarily, the answer to prayer – the ones we can hear and the ones we cannot hear. The man was set free of the demon.
NABRE footnote: See note on John 2:4: “What is this to me and to you?” — a Hebrew expression of either hostility (Jgs 11:12; 2 Chr 35:21; 1 Kgs 17:18) or denial of common interest (Hos 14:9; 2 Kgs 3:13). Cf. Mk 1:24; 5:7 used by demons to Jesus.
Personal Reflection
For me, I always rest easy in the sure and certain knowledge that in all my prayers are answered and in all the things I fail to or forget to or don’t even know to pray… are answered. What have you to do with us? The answer is everything.
First Reading
In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously. I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. 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
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.
Gospel Acclamation
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.
Gospel
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.
“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.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry