Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Galatians 5:1-26 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The opening chapter of Samuel belongs in a category all its own. It is nearly comedic. Hannah, who has not been able to bear children, is surrounded by men who can't understand her. She has rivals who irritate her because of her sad circumstances. She deals with these people year after year. Her husband doesn't understand her. Her priest doesn't understand her. The people who are supposed to be her friends do not understand her. The story would be cruel if the author did not know the ending. But he does, for Samuel himself seems to be the author of the first 25 chapters of this book. He is telling the story of his own birth, before which his mother was surrounded by fools who failed to understand her. She piously desired children, but no one offered any sympathy. This is the stuff of comedy, for it all ends well. Otherwise, it would just be another sad stor