First Reading I Samuel 1:9-20 Gospel Mark 1:21-28

Our first reading for this week and next week is taken from I Samuel. This book begins with the story of Hannah and Elkanah and their son Samuel. It is one of many biblical stories of a “child of promise.” Hannah was aging and was barren. This was one of the worst reproaches a Hebrew woman could experience. To have many children was a great blessing; to have none was thought of as a curse. Hannah was constantly reproached by her husband’s other wife, and not even Elkanah could console her
Hannah went to the Shrine of God at Shiloh and begged God for a child. She promised to dedicate the child to the Lord if God should “remove her reproach.” The priest at the Shrine, Eli, watched her lips move in prayer, but he thought she was drunk. Hannah explains, and Eli expresses the hope that the Lord will grant her request. The Lord has mercy; Hannah conceives and bears a son. She brings him to Shiloh where he is reared in the shrine by the priests. Samuel is considered to be the “last of the judges and the first of the prophets.” This is the beginning of the story of the monarchy. The lesson is one of trusting that God’s purpose will always be fulfilled if we are faithful.
In the gospel, Jesus casts out an unclean spirit. Throughout Mark’s gospel, Jesus wants his identity to be kept secret. Perhaps this is because of such mistaken ideas on what the Messiah would be. Contemporary Judaism taught that the Messiah would be triumphant, never capable of being defeated. He would bring perfect peace and justice; he would destroy all the Lord’s enemies; there would be no sickness, suffering, or death. He would establish the kingdom of God with capital at Jerusalem and he would be an everlasting king. Jesus was not the Messiah according to their expectations. He would endure suffering and death.