20220110 THE CHOICE OF GOD
10 January, 2022, Monday, Week 1 in Ordinary Time
First reading | 1 Samuel 1:1-8 © |
Hannah's rival taunts her for being barren
There was a man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the highlands of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, one called Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. Every year this man used to go up from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there as priests of the Lord.
One day Elkanah offered sacrifice. He used to give portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; to Hannah, however, he would give only one portion, although he loved her more, since the Lord had made her barren. Her rival would taunt her to annoy her, because the Lord had made her barren. And this went on year after year; every time they went up to the temple of the Lord she used to taunt her. And so Hannah wept and would not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, ‘Hannah, why are you crying and why are you not eating? Why so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 115(116):12-19 © |
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
How can I repay the Lord
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the Lord’s name.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the Lord’s name.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | cf.Ac16:14 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mk1:15 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent and believe the Good News.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 1:14-20 © |
I will make you into fishers of men
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’
As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.
THE CHOICE OF GOD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Sm 1:1-8; Ps 115:12-19; Mk 1:14-20]
We tend to look at life logically, thinking that things should develop according to reason. We place so much faith in our planning and strategy believing that everything will unfold according to our plans. Yet time and time again, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor 1:27-29)
The first reading taken from the book of Samuel marks the turning point in the history of Israel. For more than 200 years Israel was ruled by Judges after they entered Canaan. They were charismatic leaders. So long as they were around, there was peace and unity, but once they died, the people did evil in the sight of the Lord. Then God would punish them by allowing their enemies to overwhelm them. This was followed by repentance and deliverance. This cycle continued from one Judge to another, until the entrance of Samuel. He prepared the way for Israel to transit to a more stable leadership by anointing a king for Israel so that all the tribes would work together in unity.
In contrast to Deborah, one of the Judges we read earlier on who was a charismatic woman, full of valour, political and military strength, we have the story of Hannah a humble, gentle and unknown woman. She was chosen to give birth to Samuel who would eventually start the monarchy for Israel by anointing Saul and then David. Hannah was perceived as cursed by God because the Lord closed her womb. The other wife of Elkanah, Penninah would taunt her year after year for her barrenness. No one understood her pain and sadness, not even her husband who said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why are you not eating? Why so sad? Am I not more to you then ten sons?”
The truth is that motherhood is second nature to a woman. It is not enough to be a spouse to someone. Women are created by God to bear children so that they can find fulfilment by exercising the motherly instinct in them. Women have this caring and nurturing nature and this is why women desire to have children, not so much for security, especially in today’s world, but to exercise their potential to the fullest. In motherhood, most women find their self-worth and fulfilment in life. That is why, when God created man and woman, He commanded them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” (Gn 1:28) Most women find completeness in life when they have children. This explains why most women long and yearn for children. Some would even go to the extent of using IVF to conceive a child, or surrogate motherhood to have children. But the fulfilment comes not just in the act of giving birth but in nurturing the child as well. Hence surrogate motherhood does not give ultimate fulfilment to the mother.
But God had a purpose for Hannah. It is significant that the scripture speaks of her infertility as a deliberate act of God because it was the Lord who “made her barren.” But God often uses human weakness and our incapacity to show forth His glory and power so that we will not rely on our own strength and ingenuity alone but on Him. It was in desperation that Hannah turned to the Lord in faith and in prayer. As a consequence of her faith, God opened up her womb and she conceived Samuel. The Lord not only heard her prayers but He had greater plans for the child than what Hannah could imagine. He would be a great prophet and was instrumental in establishing the monarchy as a system of government in Israel. Indeed, we see the wondrous and unpredictable choice of God. God does not always work according to our ways. God makes use of negative events for our ultimate happiness. Sometimes when we despair, like Hannah, we must have faith that God has a greater plan for us. We never know, but if we surrender in faith and in prayer, He will answer our prayers at the right time.
What is said of Hannah can also be said of the selection of the first apostles. As Jesus “was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fisherman. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.” The first apostles He chose were fishermen. They were not wealthy or educated. They did not belong to the establishment. They were not theologians or scripture scholars. They were without social status. Did Jesus ever think how these men He chose could help Him to establish the Kingdom of God on earth and be His messengers to proclaim the Good News to the whole of creation?
Secondly, Jesus gave them a higher calling in life. They were contented to be fishermen but Jesus called them for a higher cause, to be fishers of men. He did not simply choose them but He gave them an assignment that was beyond them. Yet, Jesus believed in them in spite of their inadequate credentials. Jesus put into their hearts an aspiration to do greater things for God and for their fellowmen. Just like Hannah, we might never imagine that God would call us to do great things for Him because we are just ordinary people in the world. We think there are others who are better qualified than us. We are not the best choice.
We are not confident that we can do it. But Jesus asks us to just trust Him. “Follow me!” We should not ask too many questions. When we come to the bridge, He will give us the grace to cross it. The Lord told Peter after His resurrection, “when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” (Jn 21:18f) What is asked of us is our willingness to follow the Lord. So long as we are ready, He will supply us the grace.
It all boils down to how much we know our Lord and put our trust in Him, just as Hannah surrendered her life and her child to the Lord after weening him. St Paul was conscious that doing God’s work requires personal conviction above all, more than just intellectual knowledge of the scriptures. He said, “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:1-5)
Although not mentioned in the gospel, we can presume that the first apostles would have heard Jesus preaching for a while already before they gave their consent to be His disciples. And so when the Lord called them, they were ready to give up their nets, their livelihood, their family to follow after Jesus. Are we ready to give up our comfort zone to undertake something that the Lord has called us, a vocation which requires us to sacrifice our time, our comfortable life, our security and even a pay cut to do something that is worthwhile and meaningful? God could be challenging us to let go of our status quo, to change our direction in life because He has a greater mission for us to accomplish.
Let us imitate the example of the early apostles in allowing Jesus to lead us. If we discern that it is the Lord who is calling us, then we must respond in obedience and trust. We must not delay any longer until we can no longer contribute effectively. When God calls, we must respond with faith and joy. We rely on God’s grace. Both Hannah and the first apostles assure us that God will work wonders in our lives regardless of the situation we are in. God is able to make use even of social and natural tragedies, the socially powerless in society for His purpose. What is required is that we must understand that undivided faith in the Lord is key.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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