PRAYER: THE ONLY ANTIDOTE FOR TEARS. (Homily for January 11, 2016. 1ST MONDAY, Ordinary Time, Year C).


Bible Study: 1st Samuel 1, 1 to 8. Mark 1, 14 to 20.


The beautiful thing about the Bible is that it is never antiquated, each time we open it, it continues to speak directly to us. The story of the great Prophet Samuel which opens our ordinary time season this New Year is one of those stories in the Bible that reminds us that despite the number of centuries that may have passed, despite how much society has changed, the human condition remains the same.

The story of Samuel is one that we can relate with even in our own day and time. It is a story that tells us who we are, what we should be and what we are capable of becoming if we allow God step into our life through prayer. In the course of this week, we shall get to learn more about PRAYER.

  1. Why do we pray?
  2. How should we pray?
  3. Where should we pray?
  4. What attitude do we bring to prayer?
  5. How do we tell whether prayer is offensive or pleasing to God?
  6. What is the Prayer of anointing?

Today we get to read about how about a man named Elkanah who had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, one with children and the other barren. It was not bad enough that Hannah was without any children of her own, her rival Peninnah took it upon herself to provoke and irritate Hannah constantly.

Like in the days of old and even now, society looks with scorn at a woman who is childless. Inability to have children is always considered as something worse than sickness. The woman begins to ask herself if she is still a human being, she forgets her days of laughter and peace. People call her names such as baby-eater, witch, unfertile ground, reckless woman and so on. The pain of childlessness can be so much that certain women wish they were never alive than to withstand such ridicule. This pain is aggravated by people whose speech portrays a lack of acknowledgement that children are entirely gifts from God.

Like Hannah, there are times we too find it difficult to succeed where others are excelling. We may have all it takes physically, mentally or financially and even be better than them in every standard, yet we simply cannot understand why things fail to work out well for us. It is bad enough that we face difficulties but it is even worse when we become the object of laughter and ridicule. Nothing is a painful as knowing that you now have a nick-name arising from your peculiar problem.

In the midst of our difficulties and pains, the easiest thing to do is always to resort to tears! But then, crying only helps to unburden the heart and clean the eyes. Crying has never solved any problem. Tears may win you human sympathy but prayer will get you Divine Assistance. Humans may fail you but God will never fail you.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus begins his public ministry officially by calling his disciples. He is able to get a quick followership because he had first prepared himself by a forty day prayer and fasting programme. This is why when he said to Peter and Andrew, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” there was no hesitation at all. Even the sons of Zebedee left their father and the nets instantly. They were not hearing the voice of man but the voice of God himself.

When things get really tough and it seems as if crying is the only thing to do, go on your kneels in faith. Get into prayer today! Believe in prayer, tap the power of prayer and your life will never remain the same again.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, just as you began with prayer, may I begin this day and all I do with prayer that I may succeed like you in whatever I do. I commit to you my tears, fears and cares, take them and turn my situation around for good. Amen.


God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy new week.

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