Daily Retreat 01/09/06

2006 Jan 9 Mon: Ordinary Weekday

1 Sm 1:1-8/Ps 115(116)/Mk 1:14-20

NB: in the lectionary, the weekday readings are from "Year II" of the daily cycle. Odd number years follow the "Year I" cycle, even numbered years (such as "2006") follow Year II.

From today’s readings: "Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve...? This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel!"

Vocation and baptism

After the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (celebrated yesterday), the daily lectionary makes a jump to the beginning (almost) of the Gospel of St. Mark, and to the very beginning of the First Book of Samuel. In spite of the jump, a certain continuity can be found, since with baptism, there comes a vocation and mission.

Perhaps you will recall that the incident of Samuel’s presentation in the temple by his mother was read just a few days before Christmas. Now we have the chance to get the background for that whole story - today and tomorrow, the first reading focuses on Hannah’s misery in being childless. For this reason, there’s a timely providential reminder here for us, in preparation for the upcoming tragic anniversary of the American Supreme Court decision (Roe vs. Wade) which legalized abortion, to begin today praying for greater respect for life.