We are now back to ordinary time after our journey through the Christmas season. We will start the season of Lent on February 18. Today, we celebrate the feast day of an important early Church Father and the Bishop of Poitiers in France in the 4th century, St Hilary. He was named as Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1851. A convert to Christianity as an adult, he was known to be very gracious and courteous. Hilary’s writings on the Trinity and on Christ’s divinity were important in the development of those doctrines in the Early Church. His voice was also very important in combating the Arian heresy that denied Christ’s divinity. At one point, Hilary was sent into exile for his beliefs. Here is a quote from St Hilary: “The chief service I owe you, O God, is that every thought and word of mine should speak of you.”
In yesterday’s 1st reading from 1 Samuel in the daily Mass, we heard of Hannah’s pain and shame of being barren, feeling abandoned by the Lord. Hannah brings her sufferings to God at his sanctuary at Shiloh. She promises that if God gives her the gift of a son, she would dedicate that child to service to the Lord for his life, in contrast to the promises made by the males of the tribe of Levi, who serve the Lord from age 25 to age 50. Her son would dedicate his service in the Lord’s sanctuary at Shiloh. Hannah receives a blessing of peace from Eli, who prays that the God of Israel grant Hannah what she had asked of him in her prayers. Hannah is certainly a great example of faith and trust for us.
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