Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The first reading and the Gospel reading do not necessarily have to be connected to each other, and that seems to be the case in today’s readings. However, I found that they both have prayer in common. What can today’s readings tell us about prayer?
Today’s first reading is from the First Book of Samuel. Here we find Hannah praying for a son in the Temple. She does more than simply ask; she pours out her heart to God, including all her frustrations and sadness. Hannah shows us that we can be honest in our prayer to God. This can be challenging to do. It can be difficult to bring all our emotions to God, especially if we fear that God will reject us for our negative emotions, find it difficult to confront these emotions ourselves, and/or do not want to burden God with our anger and sadness, particularly if we feel we should simply be grateful for all God has given us. However, God desires an authentic relationship with us, and that includes expressing how we truly feel.
In addition, both readings demonstrate that we should not be afraid to ask God for what we need. In the first reading, Hannah asks for a son, and in the Gospel, it seems likely that the man with the unclean spirit asked for the spirit to leave him. Even if God does not grant our request in the way we hope or expect, the more important part is that we are communicating with God. Communication is essential in any relationship, and this is especially true in our relationship with God. It would be difficult to recognize how God is working in our lives if we do not take the time to communicate with God.
Today’s readings remind us that prayer is not about bringing our whole selves before God. Whether we are pouring out our pain like Hannah or asking for healing and freedom like the man in the Gospel, God invites us into honest and ongoing conversation. When we pray with sincerity and trust, we open our hearts to a deeper relationship with God—one in which we learn to recognize God’s presence and action in our lives.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI