1 Samuel 1-3 begins with the story of a woman named Hannah. She is one of two wives of Elkanah. Hannah is barren and the other wife is not. She is taunted by the other woman and is very despondent. Each year Elkanah goes to the temple at Shiloh and makes a sacrifice to the Lord. One year Hannah goes to the temple to pray. She promises the Lord that if he allows her to have a child she would dedicate him as a nazirite throughout his life. The priest Eli sees her praying so desperately and thinks she is drunk. When he hears that she is praying he grants her a blessing that God would do as she wished.

Hannah becomes pregnant and has a son whom they name Samuel. After Samuel was weaned Hannah and Elkanah bring him to Eli to serve the Lord. Hannah sings a song of praise which is very similar to the song Mary sings after she meets with Elizabeth. She leaves Samuel with Eli. God continues to bless Hannah with children.

Now Eli’s sons have no regard to the Lord. They treat the people badly and cheat them and God. But, Samuel continues to minister to the Lord. One night while Samuel is lying down by the ark of God he hears a voice calling him. He goes to Eli to see what he wants. Eli says that he has not called Samuel and senses that it is the Lord. When the Lord calls again Samuel says he is listening tells him that he will punish Eli’s sons with death. When Samuel tells Eli what God has said, he accepts God’s decision. Samuel becomes a prophet of the Lord and God spoke to him.

The story of Hannah and Samuel is an extraordinary one. Both of them show great faith and obedience keeping their promises to the Lord even when it requires sacrifice.

Mark 9 begins Jesus revelation of who he is and what that means. He takes Peter, James and John up on a mountain. Jesus is transfigured in front of them. God speaks to the three and tells them that Jesus is his son. They are to listen to him. Jesus tells them to keep this a secret until he rises from the dead. They obey but wonder what he means by rising from the dead.

A man brings his son to Jesus because his disciples are unable to heal him. Jesus heals the boy. The disciples ask why they could not do it and he says it can only happen through prayer.

Jesus shares with the disciples that he will be betrayed and killed but will rise after three days. The disciples don’t understand but are afraid to ask him about it.

While they were traveling to Capernaum the disciples were arguing. Jesus asks them why. They don’t answer because they were arguing about who would be the greatest. Jesus says that whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all. He tells them to welcome children and not to become stumbling blocks to them.

Many of Jesus’ teachings are hard to understand. He is trying to tell us to be responsible and accountable to ourselves and to others. Be hard on ourselves in regards to faith but charitable to others to build them up.