Reading 1
1 Sm 1:24-28
In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” She left Samuel there.
Gospel
Lk 1:46-56
Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.
Meditation: 1 Samuel 1:24-28
He shall be dedicated to the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:28)
God answered Hannah’s heartfelt prayer for a son. Overflowing with gratitude, she returned to the sanctuary. First she thanked God for her child. Then she offered him back to God, leaving him behind to be raised in the holy place. Hannah’s generosity opened the way for her son Samuel to become a great prophet and leader, an advisor to powerful kings.
Most of us find it easy to ask God for favors, but sometimes we fail to recognize his loving answers or come back to thank him. What about following Hannah’s example and offering back to God what he has given us? As we do, we may find that God has more in mind than we originally envisioned.
Like Hannah, the Virgin Mary offered her son back to God, even though she knew this would cause both of them tremendous suffering. Those of us who are parents can follow their example, giving back to our heavenly Father the children he has entrusted to us. We can help them to follow the way God has laid before them, even if it turns out to be different from the path we would have chosen.
In fact, we can offer back to God every gift that he gives us. For example, when God gives us a home, we can make it into a dwelling place for his Spirit and a center of hospitality for his people. Or maybe we want to consider how God’s poor have a special claim on our time and resources. Perhaps God has a use for a talent of ours—a use that goes beyond our own comfort and enjoyment.
In prayer today, make a list of the most important blessings God has given you. Thank him for them. Proclaim that these blessings are his, not yours. Then offer them back to him. Tell him that you want to use them for his glory and not yours. God always smiles on this kind of prayer!
“Lord Jesus Christ … all that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your love and your grace are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
No comments:
Post a Comment