Wednesday 15th January 2020. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Psalm 40 and Mark 1:29-39.
_“And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and
cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they
knew him.” *(Mark 1:34)*_
Today, we continue the story of Hannah. God eventually blessed
her with a child just as the Priest Eli had assured her. Hannah could have
decided to stop praying altogether as some of us do when we are blessed but she
remembered her vow and kept her word. She literally donated the boy Samuel to
God.
Having been offered to God, Samuel had nowhere else to lay his
head other than the place where the Ark of God was kept. It was here that God
called him. Samuel was quiet enough to hear the voice of God clearly so much so
that three times he ran to Eli thinking he called. Eli then understood what was
happening and gave spiritual guidance to Samuel. When next he calls, say: “Speak
Lord, for your servant, is listening.”
Two lessons we learn from this encounter are:
1. The importance of listening to God especially during prayer. Prayer
should not be all about talking to God. Prayer should not just be all about
informing God of our needs and problems as if He does not already know. Prayer is
a relationship. It is a conversation. As we talk, we must listen.
2. The need to have a Spiritual Director. You may be a very
talented artist but without a good manager, your talents may not get you far. Be
the best singer in the world, without a director, no one might hear you sing.
We have no problem consulting professionals for almost everything but when it
comes to our spiritual life, we assume we can handle it alone. Like a good coach,
your spiritual director challenges you, monitors your progress, motivates you
and journeys with you until you become the best you can ever be.
In our Gospel passage, we see Jesus curing Simon’s mother-in-law
who was sick with a fever. News of this went fast across the community and that
night the whole town gathered about Simon’s door to receive their share of the
healing bonanza. Jesus rose up very early the next morning and went to a lonely
place to pray. Why did Jesus prefer a lonely place? He wanted a place quiet
enough to hear God’s voice. What Jesus did is what we refer to as a retreat;
leaving everything else behind to focus on the one thing necessary – God. Again,
there are two lessons we learn from Jesus in this passage:
1. The importance of personal prayer. You may pray in Church or
with others. (Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there. Matthew
18:20). However, it is very important to create time to be alone with God. Switch
off the phone, switch off the television. There will be time to respond to your
calls or social media later.
2. For effective prayer, location matters. Jesus warned us
against praying in street corners or in market places to attract the attention
of others or give the impression of holiness. Find a place where you would not
be distracted easily. Find a chapel you can visit regularly or create a lonely
place in your home, your office or your store. Even if it is your closet, make
out a clean spot where you can be alone with God.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, strengthen my prayer life. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
(Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1
Samuel 3:1-20, Psalm 40 and Mark 1:29-39).
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