1st book of Samuel 1,9-20.
Hannah rose after one such 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. In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, 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." As she remained long at prayer before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, "How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!" "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. 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. 2,1.4-5.6-7.8.
and as she worshiped the LORD, she said: "My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.
The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.
he 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.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he has set the world upon them.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1,21-28.
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 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!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 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." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
CHARGE IT
"The unclean spirit convulsed the man violently and with a loud shriek came out of him." –Mark 1:26
The Lord has poured out His love on us this Christmas (Rm 5:5). We are now called to take this love and give it to a hurting, broken world. His love is stronger than death (Sg 8:6, JB), covers a multitude of sins (1 Pt 4:8), and will never fail (1 Cor 13:8). Nothing can separate us from receiving and giving the love of Jesus (Rm 8:38-39). Satan will try to stop us but can't, unless we let him. As Jesus encountered the devil at the beginning of His public ministry, so shall we (Mk 1:25). As Jesus rebuked the evil one, we too can, in Jesus, quickly crush Satan under our feet (Rm 16:20).
Our battle this year, and every year, is not primarily against human beings (even ourselves), but "against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12). Don't give the devil any foothold in 2008. Don't tolerate even his most subtle influences. Don't let him get away with anything. Don't wait for him to provoke you. Charge the gates of hell (Mt 16:18). Despoil and disarm the robber (Lk 11:22). Bring down the strongholds of the evil one, demolish his sophistries and proud pretensions (2 Cor 10:4-5). "Bring every thought into captivity to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
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