Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today, we move into the first week of Ordinary Time. The first reading throughout January will be taken from the two Books of Samuel, except for the few feast days. Three figures are prominent: the prophet Samuel, the first king by the name of Saul, and the great King David.
Before Samuel, however, today we have the story of Hannah, his mother. Hannah was married to Elkanah but unfortunately, they had no children. They were a religious couple who went regularly to worship at a nearby holy place called Shiloh. The priests there were Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.
While weeping copiously, Hannah pours out her soul in prayer. She promises the Lord that if she bears a son, she will dedicate him to the Lord. The priest Eli, seeing that she is moving her lips without vocalizing anything, thinks she is drunk. He rebukes her but she explains that she was pouring out her troubles to the Lord. Eli promises her that the God of Israel will grant her request.
She and her husband return home. She conceives and bears a son whom she names Samuel. Sometime later, she presents him to the Lord and leaves him in Shiloh where he will be called to become a great prophet in Israel.
What does Hannah do next? She breaks forth with a great song, praising God for blessing her. Her song takes the place of the usual responsorial psalm. With Hannah, we sing: “My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior … because the Lord puts to death and gives life … raising the needy from the dust.” We can imagine that her hymn became a favorite prayer for other women in Israel.
Centuries later, another woman will also break forth with a great song, after God had given her a son whom she names Jesus. Mary was that woman; she sang her Magnificat because the Lord had looked upon her lowliness. “The Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name … He has shown might with his arm and dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart” (see Luke 1:49ff).
Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections