Whoever Aligns With The Spirit

 

The story of our life will amaze people if we align with the Spirit.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 1st Week of Ord. Time II, January 9th, 2024
Texts: 1 Samuel 1:9-20; 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8; Mark 1:21-28 

Today’s readings invites us to examine the way we run our lives. The way Hannah prayed was quite unusual. We read, “Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.” This brings to mind the words of St. Paul: “Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26). The Spirit prayed in Hannah with sighs too deep for words. Whoever aligns with the Spirit runs his life differently from the children of the world, in a way too deep for the children of the world to understand.  

The people, in today’s gospel reading, also noticed the same thing in the life of Jesus Christ. We read, “Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” Again we read, “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.’" The story of our life will amaze people if we align with the Spirit.  

She asked not for self-gratification but for the glory of God

God answered Hannah’s prayer because she asked in spirit and truth. She asked not for self-gratification but for the glory of God. This is clear in her words: “O  Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant, and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give to your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the  Lord all the days of his life”. Her story is a testament that God could take away reproach, not a disregard to marriage without a child. The ultimate goal of marriage is companionship but should be open to procreation.  

Prayer  

God, our Father, open up our hearts to Your Spirit, that we may experience His influence in our lives; may always do Your will. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke