Providence and Prayer

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider our approach to prayer and the mystical aspect of our relationship to Christ in the events of life.

Prayer Place

The Reading from the First Book of Samuel presents Hannah’s Prayer.

* [1:11] No razor...: the Septuagint adds “he shall drink neither wine nor liquor.” This addition is a further suggestion that Samuel is dedicated to God under a nazirite vow (Nm 6:4–5); see note on v. 22.

* [1:20] Samuel: Hannah’s explanation associates her son’s name with the narrative’s wordplay on the Hebrew verbs s’l (“ask,” vv. 17, 27), his’il (“hand over, dedicate,” v. 28), sa’ul (“dedicated,” v. 28), and the noun se’elah (“request,” vv. 17, 27). The name, however, is related to the Hebrew root s’l only through assonance. It means “his name is El/God,” not “the one requested of or dedicated (sa’ul) to God” (v. 28), which is the meaning of the name Saul. The author may have lifted the s’l wordplay from a narrative about Saul to portray Samuel as God’s gracious answer to Hannah’s request. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the response from the First Book of Samuel, Hannah declares her heart exults in the Lord.

* [2:1–10] Hannah appeals to a God who maintains order by keeping human affairs in balance, reversing the fortunes of the arrogant, who, like Peninnah, boast of their good fortune (vv. 1, 3, 9) at the expense of those like Hannah who receive less from the Lord. Hannah’s admission places her among the faithful who trust that God will execute justice on their behalf. The reference “his king ... his anointed” (v. 10) recalls the final sentence of the Book of Judges and introduces the kingship theme that dominates the Books of Samuel.

* [2:3] Speak ... mouths: addressed to the enemies mentioned in v. 1. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark proclaims Jesus Cure of a Demoniac.

* [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.)

Suzanne Braddock notes that Jesus met with resistance from the first. A man possessed by an unclean spirit called out “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!”

I ask myself: What have I to do with Jesus? Who is He to me? Do I know Him truly as the Holy One of God? Yes, He will destroy evil in  the end, I believe. But His desire for  us is not destruction, but life. Abundant life. Fully alive. To be the me who was created to be just that - me. Not some person perfect in all respects, but perfectly me. As St. Irenaeus said “The glory of God is man fully alive.”  Woman, too.

May this year foster growth in me to fulfill God’s will for me at my creation. To realize what gifts He has given me that I may use to bring light and life to others. To not just say prayers but to listen silently for God’s loving response. To sit at His knee and wonder. (Braddock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Knowing without loving,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Those words show clearly that the demons had much knowledge, but entirely lacked love. They dreaded receiving their punishment from him. They did not love the righteousness that was in him. He made himself known to them to the extent he willed; and he willed to be made known to the extent that was fitting. But he was not made known to them as he is known to the holy angels, who enjoy participation in his eternity, in that he is the Word of God. To the demons he is known as he had to be made known, by striking terror into them, for his purpose was to free from their tyrannical power all who were predestined for his kingdom and glory, which is eternally true and truly eternal. Therefore, he did not make himself known to the demons as the life eternal, and the unchangeable light which illuminates his true worshipers, whose hearts are purified by faith in him so that they see that light. He was known to the demons through certain temporal effects of his power, the signs of his hidden presence, which could be more evident to their senses, even those of malignant spirits, than to the weak perception of human beings. (excerpt from CITY OF GOD 9.21) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Samuel 1:9-20 comments we don’t always get exactly what we are asking for. Not every parent who prays for a child will conceive one; not everything that we long for will come in the way we were expecting it. However, with prayerful reflection over time, we begin to see the many blessings that the Lord has given us. It’s true that God answers in his own time, even though we may feel that we are running out of patience.

Take heart! Your heavenly Father longs to hear your prayers and petitions. He wants you to come into his presence, just as Hannah did, and pour out your heart. And as you do, he will pour out his mercy on you.

Remember that God is always listening. He loves you. He has great blessings in store for you. He has a good plan for your life. So come to him with an open heart, ready to receive whatever he wants to give you. And one day, in this life or in the next, you will join Hannah and proclaim: “My heart exults in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:1).

“Lord, I know that you hear my prayers. Help me to trust in you.” (Meditation on 1 Samuel 1:9-20, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that 1 Samuel tells of Hannah at the sanctuary and how she prays to God to remove her curse and she will give birth to her son, Samuel. The Lord listens, and she will dedicate Samuel to the Lord. Eli approves of her prayer even after misjudgement of her state and intention, a message perhaps to us. Mark, at the beginning of the Gospel, presents Jesus proclaiming the Kingdom through action. The demons, as spiritual creatures, recognize Jesus. He is establishing the Kingdom of God where the Evil One will have no power over us. Friar Jude notes we will know God in the depth of our hearts.

Jennifer Garcia Bashaw and Aaron Higashi authors of Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and Others comment that the second creation story in Genesis contradicts much of the first. They show how both are needed.

In addition to the chapters’ portrayals of God, the stories flatly contradict each other in their orders of creation. In Genesis 1, vegetation is created before animals, then animals are created before men and women, who are made at the same time. But in Genesis 2:4 and following, Adam is created before any vegetation, then animals are created before Eve.…

In many ways, the Bible does us a favor by beginning with two contradictory stories. In so doing, the Bible signals to us at the outset what this text actually is: a diverse collection of religious traditions that have been brought together by different communities of faith over a long period of time…. When you read the Bible, you’re reading an anthology of ancient religious literature—not a textbook, not an instructional manual, not a love letter from God, and not a complete work of systematic theology. (Garcia Bashaw & Higashi, n.d.)

We contemplate the action of the Spirit in our lives to reveal the reality of our Creation that extends beyond what our five senses initially present to us.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-13-2026 

Garcia Bashaw, J., & Higashi, A. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-gift-of-two-stories/ 

Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?21 

Meditation on 1 Samuel 1:9-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/13/1479145/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/1 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/2 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Taught with Authority. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 13, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Birth of Sampson and the Baptist

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider the special nature of the birth of each and every person in God’s plan for fullness of life.

Blessed Birth

The reading from the Book of Judges predicts the birth of Sampson.

* [13:5] A nazirite for God: according to the rules for nazirites set forth in Nm 6:2–8, Samson’s vows would have obliged him to abstain from wine and other products of the vine and to keep his hair uncut. As the story that follows shows, the last requirement proved especially fateful in Samson’s life. (Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 71 is a prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help.

* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of John the Baptist is foretold.

* [1:7] They had no child: though childlessness was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin, it is intended here to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important Old Testament figures: Sarah (Gn 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gn 25:21); Rachel (Gn 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jgs 13:2–3); Hannah (1 Sm 1:2).

* [1:13] Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). You shall name him John: the name means “Yahweh has shown favor,” an indication of John’s role in salvation history.

* [1:15] He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:4–5) and Samuel (1 Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.

* [1:17] He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:1–2. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”

* [1:19] I am Gabriel: “the angel of the Lord” is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:20–25 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus.

* [1:20] You will be speechless and unable to talk: Zechariah’s becoming mute is the sign given in response to his question in v. 18. When Mary asks a similar question in Lk 1:34, unlike Zechariah who was punished for his doubt, she, in spite of her doubt, is praised and reassured (Lk 1:35–37). (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford comments that Zechariah’s story raises some troubling questions in his mind.

Is the life I am living one of righteousness and faith, one that would cause God to decide I could be entrusted with a great, or even a small, responsibility?  How would I respond if God called me to upend my somewhat orderly and comfortable life, especially if I do not understand how or why?  And why am I asking “if” God would call me to change my life, when I should be asking “How is God calling me and how should I respond?" (Crawford, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Born for prophecy - murdered for truth,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).

"I do not know what is the most important thing that we should preach - that he [John the Baptist] was wonderfully born or more wonderfully slain - for he was born as a prophecy and murdered for truth. By his birth he announced the coming of the Savior, and by his death he condemned the incest of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12). This holy and righteous man, who was born in an uncommon way as the result of a promise, merited from God that he should depart this world by an uncommon death - that he should by confessing the Lord lay aside his body, which he had received as a gift from the Lord. Therefore John did everything by the will of God, since he was born and died for the sake of God's work." (excerpt from SERMON 5.1-.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:5-25 comments that speaking to God is wonderful. But it is equally important to listen in silence and accept what we hear. Silence is a way that you can confess that God’s plans and purposes far surpass your own—and that he will do what’s best for you! It’s a way of showing God that you trust him as a loving Father, even when life seems chaotic.

In your prayer today, try to put yourself in Zechariah’s shoes. Try not to “say” too much in prayer. Instead, silently offer yourself to God, silently surrender to his will, or sit in wordless, astonished gratitude for his love and mercy.

“Here I am, Lord.” (Meditation on Luke 1:5-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the promise of a child, Sampson, to a barren woman and the nazirite vow that treats hair as sacred resulting in Sampson not cutting his, and Paul shaving his head. The angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah announces that Elizabeth’s child will be “John” that means “God is merciful” in Hebrew. Friar Jude notes that Zechariah is forced to “listen in silence” for his questioning of God in response to his prayers.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces twentieth-century English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) who describes how an ordinary underground train journey in London transformed into a powerful vision of Christ dwelling in all people.

I was in an underground train, a crowded train in which all sorts of people jostled together, sitting and strap-hanging—workers of every description going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw with my mind, but as vividly as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all. But I saw more than that; not only was Christ in every one of them, living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them—but because He was in them, and because they were here, the whole world was here too … all those people who had lived in the past, and all those yet to come. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the accounts of miraculous birth and contemplate the action that is part of the demonstration of our rebirth in the truth, love, and compassion of God.

References

Crawford, D. (2024, December 19). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121924.html 

Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/13?2 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?5 

Meditation on Luke 1:5-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/19/1155474/ 

Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Christ in All, All in Christ. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/christ-in-all-all-in-christ/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Many Will Rejoice at His Birth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec19