Take it to the Lord in Prayer

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 11, January 11th, 2022
Texts: 1 Samuel 1:9-20; Ps.1 Samuel 2:1.4-8;  Mark l :21b-28
Today we are told that Hannah took her problem to the Lord. It is said, "She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly." This brings to mind the words of St. Peter: "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you" (1Pet.5:7). Hannah realised that God cared about her and  she took her problem to Him. After she prayed, her peace was restored. It is said of her thus: "Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad".  Just like Hannah, whatever it may the problem we are facing, let us take it to the Lord. Let us hear Jesus Christ saying, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Mtt.11:28).
Hannah cried to God and she was heard. It is said, "And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her; and in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, 'I have asked him of the Lord.'” This reminds us of the words of Jesus Christ, Himself: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Mtt. 5:4). Hannah is an example of one who mourns; she mourned over her barrenness and was comforted by God. Joseph M. Scriven, in his song, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, says,
Oh! What a peace we often forfeit.
Oh! What needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Some of us are languishing in pain, grief, sorrow etc because we refuse to take our problem to the Lord. Today, let us take our worries to Him, He will attend to them. In the life of Hannah we know that God answers prayer.
Today's gospel reading speaks of Jesus as a teacher and saviour. He came to bring us salvation. It is said thus: "And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.'” As a teacher He came to reveal the truth and as a saviour He came to save us from the evil ones. Let us go to Him and He will save us and reveal to us the truth. To say that He teaches with authority is to say that He teaches convincingly as a witness with first-hand experience. Jesus has been with the Father from eternity and so He can speak about the Father with authority. Jesus Christ is the only teacher that can reveal to us the truth about ourselves and problem. He is the only one that can wipe away our tears, relieve us of our pains. He is the only one that can save us from our troubles and predicaments.

Lord our God, we thank You for always been there for us, pardon us for the number of times we have gone astray; we ask for Your constant enlightenment and salvation. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke