Daily Retreat 01/10/06

2006 Jan 10 Tue: Ordinary Weekday

1 Sm 1: 9-20/ 1 Sm 2: 1. 4-5. 6-7. 8abcd/ Mk 1: 21-28

From today’s readings: "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.... My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.... The people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."

Prejudice and Contrition

The word "prejudice" literally means "pre-judgment," the crystalizing of an opinion before all pertinent facts have a chance to be examined and considered. While the word is strongly charged in modern parlance as the unwarranted basis for racial and other discrimination, "prejudice" actually has a wider denotation that applies to numerous everyday situations that more than likely all of us find ourselves in too often.

In the first reading, when the priest Eli saw Hannah miserably mouthing her petition in the temple, he concluded that she was drunk, and so he berated her in a rather un-priestly fashion! In his pre-judgment, Eli had concluded the worst about Hannah, and even told her so. To Hannah’s credit, she did NOT storm out of the temple, never to return, harboring a lifelong grudge against cruel priests! Given Eli’s insensitivity, no one would have blamed Hannah for overreacting in such a manner, as some have done in our day in response to insensitive remarks or other inexcusable actions of priests. Hannah, however, looks past Eli’s human failings and calls upon the intercession of his priesthood as she explains to him a bit of her sad situation. Much chagrined, Eli changes his tone completely, intercedes as a priest for her petition, and offers Hannah a few words that evidently brought her comfort, for she "left, went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast." Read the rest of chapter one to see the happy ending to this incident!

In my own human frailty, I know I have been guilty of Eli’s example of prejudice - instantly assuming the worst about people; and even if my words aren’t as coldly insensitive as were Eli’s, there’s still been too many times when I made my disgust known, even if only with a non-verbal cold shoulder. Inspired by the Word of God, I’m sure that all my brother priests join me in praying to God for forgiveness for such faults, and begging anyone offended by any one of us to have the mature faith of Hannah - look past our human failings, turn to your priests for the prayers, inspiration and intercession God charges us to provide, bringing the Gospel - the Good News! - to every heavy heart.