Reading I
1 Sm 1:1-8
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name,
a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim.
He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu,
son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah;
Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city
to worship the LORD of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh,
where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were ministering as priests of the LORD.
When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice,
he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah
and to all her sons and daughters,
but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her,
though the LORD had made her barren.
Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her
that the LORD had left her barren.
This went on year after year;
each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the LORD,
Peninnah would approach her,
and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
Her husband Elkanah used to ask her:
“Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat?
Why do you grieve?
Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
Gospel
Mk 1:14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
Meditation: Mark 1:14-20
“Hang in there!” “Don’t give up the ship!” “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”
What words of encouragement do you use when there seems to be no explanation for the sufferings visited upon a friend or loved one? Perhaps you have a favorite psalm that provides that extra bit of optimism that someone needs. Perhaps it’s a story from your own life. Or maybe just a reassuring pat on the back.
What would you say to John the Baptist as he was held prisoner before his execution? How would you have helped him in his hour of need when even Jesus, his own cousin, didn’t come to his rescue?
It’s interesting that John was arrested around the same time that Jesus began his preaching. John must have pondered this mysterious connection as he sat in his prison cell. Clearly, it was time for him to “decrease” while Jesus “increased” (John 3:30). But it seems that John struggled with this turn of events. He even sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3 ). If Jesus really was the Messiah, where was the longed-for kingdom of God? And why was John still in prison?
Trying to unravel God’s plan doesn’t mean there’s a problem with his plan. Even if we cannot predict how God’s design will unfold, we can still believe in him and try our best to trust in his wisdom. Remember, he is God, and we are only human.
If you are going through a difficult time right now, take heart. And remember: God is not behind it. It is not in his nature to cause sickness or evil. These things are present in our lives because we live in a world that is not fully conformed to Christ. Sickness, death, malice—these are all signs of the disorder brought about by sin—not by your heavenly Father.
Know, too, that anyone who bears with difficulty or suffering in a godly way is doing something honorable. It is never easy to carry our cross, but none of us has to carry it alone. Jesus is with us. He has already walked that path. He has already triumphed. Now he is here to show us the way.
“O Lord, how can I ever begin to know your ways? I surrender myself to you. I trust in your unfailing love!”
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