From the Depths of the Heart

                             Reflection for Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Year A

                                                            (1Sam 9-20; Mk 1:21-28)

From the depth of her sorrows, Hannah prayed to the Lord. Though in agony, she was positively minded. Hannah did not blame anyone for her situation, neither was she seeking revenge for the one that taunted her. She was specific in her request: ‘give to your maidservant a son.’ Surprisingly, she vowed to give back to God what He would give her. Here she made total commitment to God, and self-detachment from her request, such that at the end, only the glory of God would remain. 

This kind of prayer of self-surrender is uncommon. “Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.” She was lost in deep contemplation. The sound of her silence caught the attention Eli, the priest, who thought she was drunk. “From the depths I call to you, O God: Lord hear my cry” (Ps 130:1-2). We must extol the silence of the heart in our prayers. Eli blessed her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you made to Him.” She believed and left the temple happy. “Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’”

What a liberation, and the transforming of her sorrows to joy! It was marvellous. Such awe was felt around Jesus among those who listened to Him at Capernaum. Such fire of glory and power is often felt by those who, in silence listen and speak to the Lord from the depth of their hearts. It creates inner freedom and peace, and neutralizes negative energies and influences. This is seen in the Gospel of today as Jesus silences the demonic, and casts out the unclean spirit.

Jesus is the new High Priest, our Mediator, who hears even the silent petitions of our hearts (cf. Heb 4:14-16). He is the new Temple (In 2:21), where we enter to have divine encounter. Sorrows and failures of life can accumulate into negative energies within, breeding hate, revenge and depression. These, like the Demoniac that interrupted Jesus, can destroy our inner serenity and contemplation,  leaving behind chaos. But we match like Hannah, bearing our sorrows and brokenness, to pour out our hearts to Jesus. He blesses us through the action of the priests. With Him every pain and sorry becomes an opportunity for new grace and favour to the glory God. 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R 

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 

Tedi-Muwo,  Lagos. 

Tuesday 14th January, 2020.