The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to experience the power of prayer to inspire our contemplation and guide our response to the events of our lives.
Prayer in a "Thin Place"
The Reading from the First Book of Samuel presents the Revelation to Samuel prior to his being Acknowledged as Prophet.
* [3:2–18] The call of Samuel: This section may be divided as follows: 1. the triple summons (vv. 2–9); 2. God’s revelation (vv. 10–14); 3. Samuel informs Eli (vv. 15–18).
* [3:3] Not yet extinguished: referring to the nighttime setting of this narrative (cf. Ex 27:20–21) and foreshadowing a permanently extinguished lamp when the ark is captured and Shiloh destroyed.
* [3:14] Lv 4:3–12 presents another view: the offering of a bull can expiate priestly sin. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 40 exhorts us to open and enthusiastic proclamation of salvation.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17). (Psalms, PSALM 40 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark presents the Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Other Healings prior to Jesus Leaving Capernaum.
* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story.
* [1:23] An unclean spirit: so called because of the spirit’s resistance to the holiness of God. The spirit knows and fears the power of Jesus to destroy his influence; cf. Mk 1:32, 34; 3:11; 6:13.
* [1:24–25] The Holy One of God: not a confession but an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power, reflecting the notion that use of the precise name of an opposing spirit would guarantee mastery over him. Jesus silenced the cry of the unclean spirit and drove him out of the man.
* [1:24] What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jeremy Graney reflects on an earlier time in his life, where much of his spirituality was rooted with the Benedictines. St. Benedict opens their rule with the instruction to “Listen carefully” and “attend with the ear of your heart.”
There is a lot of listening in today’s readings, Samuel is not listening deep enough and mistakes the Lord’s voice with Eli’s. They are not listening with the “ear of their heart.” Listening, but not hearing. The psalm has us all responding, “Here am I.” We could turn this phrase to “Hear I am” I hear you, Lord, and am responding. Responding to you, like sheep hearing the voice of their shepherd or children hearing their parent’s voice cut through the noise. I listen for you with the ear of my heart.
Listening, for me, is discerning. Am I hearing the message beyond the words or emotions that carry it? Am I listening in that space of grace between myself and God. Am I doing God’s will? (Graney, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “The habit of prayer,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Jesus prayed and did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray? Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer, saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 comments that God wants us to live in community with one another. He wants us to be open to each other’s words of encouragement, even as he wants us to be free to encourage them. In other words, he wants us all to be willing to share about our spiritual lives with one another.
God didn’t create us to live as anonymous, isolated believers. He wants us to develop relationships that mirror the love that exists between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. He wants us to treat each other with the same openness and care that the apostles learned as they grew closer to Jesus. May we all grow together in love so that we can all grow together in Christ!
“Jesus, teach me how to share spiritual companionship with the people you have put in my life.” (Meditation on 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments 1 Samuel tells of Hannah and her prayer to the Lord for a son, Samuel, who is with the priest Eli who realizes God is calling Samuel. “Speak Lord your servant is listening” And Samuel is commissioned to the role of a servant of God. Jesus is in Capernam where scholars suggest the Gospel contains perhaps eyewitness testimony of Peter to Mark. The fever of Simon’s mother in law is healed and as a good Jewish mother and an expression of gratitude. Jesus after prayer is to proclaim the Good News to all the villages to end the reign of Satan.
Cherokee theologian and CAC guest faculty member Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley considers how creation’s goodness includes diversity, balance, and harmony. God’s shalom, which is holistic peace and harmony, is discovered through the interconnectedness of all creation.
From God’s purview there is an interconnectedness of all God has made. All things are designed and created beautifully by their Creator. Each part of the created whole bears the mark of its Creator. Each element works in relationship with all the others. Each ingredient is connected through its common origin and, together, all share a common location in the universe; and when God is finished with creation there is a pause on the seventh day. Not a pause as if to look back and second-guess, but an intentional pause to celebrate the way it is. The Aboriginal Rainbow Elders in Australia say the Creator sang on the seventh day. The meaning is like that of a gathering or a community “get-together” where celebration is the only priority. The celebration is a party because everything is harmonious as it was meant to be. This is God’s shalom creation party. Though told in slightly different ways, many indigenous peoples around the world are able to recognize this story, and this pause, as the Harmony Way…. (Woodley, n.d.)
We pause to attend to the prompting of the Spirit that guides our daily Way and reveals our connection to Creation.
References
Graney, J. (2026, January 14). Daily Reflection January 14, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-14-2026
Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?29
Meditation on 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/14/1479966/
1 Samuel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/3?1
Psalms, PSALM 40 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Healed Many Who Were Sick. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
Woodley, R. (n.d.). A Harmonious Goodness. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-harmonious-goodness/
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