Two days before my mom passed away, visitors in the hospital came to offer prayers for her. A man with his group said a prayer for her soul to be welcomed in heaven, even though she was still alive but with deteriorating vital signs. As soon as they left, my mom had a hard time breathing. She struggled to speak and uttered, “Prayer. . . panget. . . rebuke it.” My brother and I looked at each other and loudly prayed, “We rebuke it, in Jesus’ name!” Immediately, she was able to breathe better.

My mom was the one who convinced us to join and serve when we were young, and even in her last days, God used her to teach us a valuable lesson. That even though we do not see it, prayer works and the words we utter matter. No hard feelings, but the incident had to happen for us to learn. 

Our thoughts may not be heard by others but our entire self hears them loud and clear. So, let’s fill our day with words and prayers that welcome God’s grace and mercy. 

Dreus Cosio (andreus.cosio@gmail.com)

reflect

Prayer works. Be intentional in speaking blessings to yourself and others today. Words do not just create reality; they welcome God’s divinity. 

Dear Lord, thank You for speaking blessings to my life. I receive Your word. I receive Your mercy and grace. May it bless me and the world around me. Amen. 

St. Hilary of Poiters, pray for us.

God heard Hannah’s prayer and Samuel was born to her. How often do we cry out to the Lord in tears, with all our heart, mind, and soul? How committed are we to seeking God’s will for us and praying for the grace to obey it? We could all improve on this in our faith journey with God.

⁹ Hannah rose after a meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. ¹⁰ In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, ¹¹ and she made a vow, promising, “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” ¹² As she remained long at prayer before the Lord, Elin watched her mouth, ¹³ for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, ¹⁴ said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” ¹⁵ “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. ¹⁶ Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” ¹⁷ Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” ¹⁸ She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast. ¹⁹ Early the next morning they worshipped before the Lord, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the Lord remembered her. ²⁰ She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the Lord for him.

Responsorial Psalm | 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8

R: My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

1 “My heart exults in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.” (R) ⁴ “The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. ⁵ The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes.” (R) ⁶ “The Lord puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. ⁷ The Lord makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.” (R) ⁸ “He raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap he lifts up the poor, to seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage.” (R) 

Gospel | Mark 1:21-28

Jesus preaches with authority, confident that He can live out the will of the heavenly Father during His ministry. We need the same assurance in our minds and hearts. Let us persevere in seeking God’s will for us and always be ready to respond to His call. May we trust Him to give us the grace we need to be faithful.

Gospel Acclamation

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

²¹ Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. ²³ In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; ²⁴ he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” ²⁵ Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” ²⁶ The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. ²⁷ All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflect

“Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be, even as wheresoever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.” (St. Ignatius of Antioch) 

Read the Bible in one year! Read MARK 1 - 4 today.

Today, in the First Reading, the barren Hannah made a vow to the Lord: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid . . . if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives . . .”

In this vow, it is clear that children are gifts from the Lord, not properties of the parents. As such, they are meant to be “given back” and dedicated to the Lord. This is so because only God is properly the Creator. Human parents are only sharers in the creative power of God. It is a power that is not only given but a power that can also be denied to some.

“Procreation” is composed of two words: pro (in the name of or in behalf of) and creation (the power to reproduce life). Human parents can conceive life not from their own inherent powers—it is a privilege given by God, the Creator of all. Human parents can conceive life only in the name of and in behalf of God. This is why the marital act is called procreation and not creation of life.

Children are entrusted by the Creator to human parents as a participation in His divine power to create. This is why parents do not have absolute dominion over children. Children, therefore, should always be accepted as gifts and reared in the spirit of stewardship.

To the children reading this reflection—meaning all of us—your life is a pure gift. Our existence is a pure gift from God through the agency and generosity of our parents. Our attitude can only be gratitude.

To the parents reading this reflection, revel in the awesome power that God has blessed you with. But awesome responsibility comes with that power. You are not only raising a child for the world, but more so, you are raising a soul for the Kingdom of God. 

Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

Who you are is God’s gift to you. Who you become is your gift to God.

Thank You, Lord, for the wonderment of my being—that I am wonderfully and fearfully made. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________