Healing

Readings for Tuesday January 12, 2010

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-20
Responsorial Psalm: 1 Samuel 2:1
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20


Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 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. Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the LORD remembered her. She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him. (1 Sam 1:15-20)

In today's first reading we read the request of Hannah to have a child. As we read yesterday, Hannah was not able to conceive, and this inability to have children was causing her such sorrow and sadness in her life. At her lowest, Hannah humbly comes before the Lord and prays with all her heart to be able to have a child, and if the Lord would just grant her this, she would give the child back to the Lord and consecrate the child to Him.

How many of us have been in Hannah's shoes before? How many times at our lowest, or in our most difficult times have we dropped to our knees in prayer? In these moments when we are facing something so hard for us, it is good that we are going to the right source. The Lord wants us to rely and to trust in Him. Hannah trusted Him enough to pour out all of her trouble; she did not go to some friend or idol, no, she took her hardship and asked the Lord for help. We too, need to take up Hannah's example and take our troubles and hardships before the Lord, because in doing this there is something so wonderful to be found ... healing.

In Hannah's story, there is a happy ending, the Lord remembered her, and gave her the ability to conceive. In today's gospel reading, we read of Jesus healing the man possessed by a demon. In each of these cases God brought healing to those in need, and that is exactly what He wants to do is bring healing into our lives. Prayer is such an important part of this, because prayer reminds us who we go to for help, who we trust in and who we are willing to surrender everything that we have to. It is in prayer that we ask God for the help we need, and He will always answer our prayers; it may not be the way we expected, and we may not get the things that we wanted, but we will always get the things that we need for our healing.

So no matter what you are going through or what is troubling you, bring it before God. Let Him help as only we can and wants to. May we all have the strength to put our trust in the Lord, and may we all be granted the healing we need.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have given us, thank you for all of the blessings in our lives. Lord, we bring to you all of our troubles and our worries, help us God, may your glory and might be shown through our healing. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.