A reflection on the Daily Lectionary readings for January 15. Please see the Daily page for tools to help you make daily prayer and scripture part of your rhythm.
(Psalm 27:1-6; 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Galatians 1:11-24)
Where do you find your confidence and strength? in your closest relationships? In your community? In your profession? In your faith?
Our Old Testament lesson today is a story about a woman whose culture and society have told her that her only value comes from the men in her life. Hannah is married but has been unable to get pregnant. In her culture, she is lacking as a woman. Her husband makes an effort to relieve her distress but in a way that puts himself at the center (aren’t I enough for you?) and not Hannah and her pain. We aren’t told that Elkanah prayed for Hannah or that he tried to intervene in any way with Peninnah’s harmful behavior toward Hannah.
And so she decided to step into the fullness of who God made her to be. Hannah went to God with her sorrow, pleading to have a son whom she promised to raise to be a man devoted to God (this is what being a nazarite is – someone who lives a holy life). Eli, the priest, saw her praying intently and passionately and like men often do when women stretch the societal bounds designed by men in an attempt to keep them restrained, assumed she was drunk. Hannah speaks out and declares she is a woman pouring her soul out to God. Eli, to his credit, sees her and hears her and blesses her and her prayer.
Hannah leaves with the strength that comes from giving our weighty sorrows to God and then trusting in God’s plan even if it isn’t our own. She is living in the confidence that comes when we stop trying to gain approval and seek God’s love.
This is what Paul is addressing as we pop into his letter to the Galatians. Prior to what we read today, Paul asks “’ Am I now seeking human approval or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul has heard that the Galatians were turning away from what they had learned from him and reworking the gospel to suit how they wanted to live.
Paul reminds them how he came to faith in Jesus and gave up his old way of living (persecuting Jesus’ followers) to receive God’s grace and the knowledge of who Jesus is. Paul redirects their attention back to the true Gospel, the good news message of God’s love for all people. It is God’s love that makes us infinitely valuable. When we live in the light of God’s love, we have the strength and confidence to face the struggles and troubles of this world, not with anger or pride but with compassion and love.
This is the true good news message – God’s love is what we are made for. And when we ground our identity and value in this, we can face anything in the confidence that God is with us.
Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts 