May the God of Israel grant your request

May the God of Israel grant your request

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

1 Sam. 1:9-20, Mk 1:21-28. Today's readings summon us to respond to the creative grace that is given to us; to wait patiently and prayerfully for moments of grace and pour out our soul in prayer to God. We need those invisible impulses of grace to live as fully as we should and to do our part in what needs to be done. In the first reading, the prayerful wife, Hannah, shows great dignity in spite of her grief at being childless. She gives an honest answer to the high priest who accused her of being drunk: “I am an unhappy woman…. I am only pouring out my troubles to the Lord.” What else could Eli reply to her anguished sincerity: “May the God of Israel grant your request.” After giving birth, the delighted Hannah decides to consecrate her newborn son as a Nazirite.

As the people were spellbound about Jesus in today's Gospel, for His “new teaching” and special authority, we are invited to consecrate ourselves to Him and give Him our full attention. He brought new life to those who were sitting in darkness, in need of a clear vision to live by. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus cast out evil spirits from a possessed man in a synagogue. The possessed man was beset by the demons who recognised Jesus for whom He is, the Son of God and Saviour of the world. The Lord commanded the evil spirit to leave the man and it had to obey the Lord’s command and left the man freed from his earlier torments. Today we are reminded that God is always ever loving and compassionate towards us, full of mercy and concern. He did not turn deaf ears or blind eyes against our afflictions, but He does whatever is in His will to help us, in His own time. As long as we believe in God and put our trust in Him, we will not be disappointed.

May the Lord grant our request and bring us true happiness as we look up to Him! Amen!! Good morning and have a wonderful day!!!

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