Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, January 10th, 2022
Texts: 1 Samuel 1: 1-8; Ps.116: 12-14 .17-19; Mark 1: 14-20
We are presented with the story of Hannah in today's first reading. She was faced with barrenness, inability to bear child. The barrenness was a sore to her, which made her cry from time to time. Hannah becomes a testimony to the fact that we have in our lives situation that could make us cry. Some people their own is not barrenness but waywardness of their children; they could not be proud of their children. For some people it is sickness; they could not understand why the sickness refuse to go inspite of the money spent and medicine used. For some people, it is their bad characters or habits, which is detrimental to their progress. For some people it is academics; inspite of the effort they put into their studies, they still find themselves in an undesirable position. Some people, no matter the amount of good they do, they are hated. They work so hard in their workplaces and yet people who do not do much are preferred to them for promotion and reward. Some people cry because they think they are often denied of opportunity to show or develop their potentials. The list could be endless. The point is that situation that could take tear out of our eyes are often present in our lives. In the midst of all these, God speaks to us in the words of Elkanah: "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” For better understanding, let us put the question this way: Is God not more than enough for us?
The question borders on whether we consider God more important than life. If we consider life more important than God, we might say He is not enough for us. If we consider life less important to God, we might say God is more than enough. The answer we give determine whether we will live a peaceful and fulfilled life or chaotic and sad life. The answer also reveals our relationship with God. However, the psalmist says, "O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsty. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. ... FOR YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, my lips will speak your praise. So I will bless you all my life" (63:1-4). If we truly consider God more important than life our focus will be shifted away from that thing that make us cry and fix our attention on God, longing for Him and seeking Him with our whole heart, body and soul. If God is considered more important than life, we will rather give thanks in every circumstance instead of crying and weeping. Today's psalm, therefore, invites us to give thanks to God, for He is always good to us.
We are invited by Jesus, in today's gospel reading, to follow Him. He invites us as He invited Peter and others. Let us follow Him and live for Him. To live for God is to consider Him more important than life. It is said, "And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ....And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him."u This means we must be ready to detach from worldly things, we must be ready to give up worldly passions. As we follow Him, He also gives us tasks to accomplish. The task He gives us is to win souls for Him. This is clear when He says, "I will make you fishers of men".
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Amen. (Collect)
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
