Daily Reflection: Tuesday, January 11
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Eli: How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up.
Hannah: It isn’t that, my lord. I am an unhappy woman. I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. (from 1Samuel 1)
I sympathize with Eli. He didn’t get it. He jumped to conclusions about Hannah as she prayed emotionally. Once a woman, going to confession, walked out on me. I leaped out the confessional and brought her back. I thought that I had understood her situation, but I was not listening deeply to her. She taught me a great lesson as I listened and really heard her. Eli learned that, more than admonition or advice, what people need is listening and understanding and so did I. God is alway present to us and we need to be present to each other.
John Frambes, ofm