[1Sam 1:9-20/1Sam 2:1,4-8/Mark 1:21-28]
The mission of Christ is identified with intervention to rescue humans. It means teaching, listening to the cry of the poor and setting people free from the power of Satan.
He taught with an authority that is distinct from the scribes and cast out unclean spirits to liberate people who were possessed (Gospel).
The Lord listened to the cry of the barren and anguished Hannah who prayed for a child, granting her the fruit of the womb (First Reading).
In appreciation to God for the gift of a child, Hannah proclaimed divine praises. Both by the structure and content, Hannah’s gratitude is the prototype of Mary’s Magnificat (cf. 1 Sam 2).
Following Christ’s baptism and the commissioning by the Father, we witnessed divine intervention in human history.
Let us believe in the Lord, repent of our sins and pray for divine rescue through preaching for knowledge, healing for restoration and granting of our request in faith.
