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Jesus, the Son of God, tells us to not see our blessings as “Better than others” but rather opportunities to use these God-given blessings, as Hannah did, to make the world a better place for others. Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to listen to His teachings, to go to Him with our uncertainties and even our unclean spirits. To trust in His relationship with us and to become joyful, hopeful, and confident people, knowing,“That with God all things are possible.”
1 Samuel 1:9-20
1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd
M ark 1:21-28 And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. (22) And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. (23) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; (24) and he cried 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." (25) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" (26) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. (27) 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." (28) And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Meditation by Marcia Shadle-Cusic
My thoughts, with the First Reading, centered on Hannah and her self-knowledge, direct expression of who she was and her trust and dependence on God. She states, “I am an unhappy woman”, feeling that she will live a more complete life if given a child that she can raise to be a future leader in her faith community. Hannah clearly sees her life as an extension of God’s plan for her and is not afraid to speak directly to Eli, the priest, when she tells him, “ Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; Hannah knows herself and knows that she can trust God with her deep sorrow and misery and asks God for the fullness of life. She tells Eli, “Think kindly of your maidservant, and being true to herself, her calling, and her trust in God, Hannah goes on to live a life fulfilled by serving God and her faith community through the birth and the nurturing of her son Samuel.
The Gospel and the Psalm continue to remind us to trust in the authority and the teachings of Jesus. In the Temple Jesus speaks with authority, not based on law but rather based on the new ideals that come from God. God’s new message tells us to “swallow up my enemies”—which may be our own “unclean spirits”- spirits such as anger, bitterness, resentfulness, or fear and then to rejoice in our victory over these unclean spirits. Jesus, the Son of God, tells us to not see our blessings as “Better than others” but rather opportunities to use these God- given blessings, as Hannah did, to make the world a better place for others. Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to listen to His teachings, to go to Him with our uncertainties and even our unclean spirits. To trust in His relationship with us and to become joyful, hopeful, and confident people, knowing, “That with God all things are possible.”
Supplementary Reading
Real Insurance
Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid. – Mark 6:50
T he picture on the front page of the business section said it all: a stock market staff holding his head in disbelief at the precipitous plunge of the stock market indices. It was happening across the globe, sparked by the bankruptcy of a number of financial institutions in the US . So eroded was the confidence on financial markets that some Americans were buying precious metal bullions like gold, platinum and silver.
When this happened, my employees consulted me whether they should continue paying their insurance premiums to a giant insurance company that was being sold because its principal based in the US had also gone bankrupt.
I shared with them that long ago, I discovered a better kind of insurance. That’s why I stopped getting personal and car insurances. I figure you pay good money today for an amount that will not really amount to something significant in the future.
Instead, I learned to put my trust in God for my real insurance. By putting my money and investing my time in the service of the Father’s business, He rewards me with financial stability. --- Rolly España (rolly@homeliving.com.ph)
REFLECTION:
The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:8)
F ather in heaven, teach me to trust You more, especially in times of crisis.
For meditation/readings of the previous days/months , please click any of the following links:
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220
Daily Mass and Gospel Meditation Broadcast (Tagalog) thru DWXI (5am Phil Time), pls click this link: http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=62#STS=g1jais7y.zk6
GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
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