As she remained long at prayer before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace,
and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Sam 1:9-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011122.cfm
A somewhat humorous scene in the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. And of course, Hannah’s hymn of praise becomes the model for the Magnificat of Mary in the Gospel of Luke. As Hannah sings: My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior (Responsorial Psalm).
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Tuesday, Week 1, Ordinary Time
