1st Week of OT 2020 - Tuesday - Pleading for New Life

For the next three and a half weeks, our first readings will be taken from the first and second books of Samuel. Of all the books in the old testament, why does Ordinary Time begin with Samuel?

Throughout the books of Moses, we read of the formation of the nation of Israel: we read of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Exodus from Egyptian slavery, and the wandering in the desert for 40 years. After the desert, the Jews enter into the promised land, under the guidance of Joshua, who does his best to replace Moses as spiritual leader, as the twelve tribes embark on a, more or less, military conquest of the promised land. This gives way to the leadership of the judges, who are sort of these warrior chieftains who arise when Israel gets into trouble and needs to be delivered from her enemies.

First Samuel is a sort of prologue to the rise and development of kingship in Israel, a transition from the period of judges to the period of the monarchy.

And first Samuel, as we heard yesterday, begins with a barren woman, Hannah. She is a woman of virtue, loveliness, godliness, but she is barren. And today, we heard her weeping, copiously, pleading with God for a son. She refers to herself as the handmaid of the Lord, and promises to consecrate her child to God.

Hannah certainly reminds us, she foreshadows, the virgin of Nazareth, the handmaiden, full of grace, who submits her life to God, whose son shall be wholly consecrated to God. And yet, in her barrenness, she also reminds us, and foreshadows Elizabeth. Moreso, because Hannah’s son Samuel, will be a sort of precursor to the kingship, like john the Baptist, son of Elizabeth, was the precursor to the king of kings, the Christ.

Throughout Ordinary Time we read from the various books of the bible. We meet the holy men and women of the Old Testament, like Hannah and Samuel. And perhaps Ordinary Time begins with this story of God bringing life into a barren situation, because throughout Ordinary Time, as we read and study the scriptures, and practice virtue in our ordinary circumstances, God wishes to bring new life in us—in our family relationships, in our parish relationship, in our relationship with strangers and the poor.

May we, like Hannah, weep copiously, pleading with God for new life, placing our lives, entirely in His service, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.