First Reading

Reading from the first book of Samuel 

1 Samuel 1:9-20

At that time, after taking the ritual meal in Shiloh, Hannah rose and stood before the Lord, deeply distressed and full of tears. She made this vow: “Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the hardship of your servant, and if you remember me and do not forget me, but grant your servant a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall ever cross his lips, and no razor shall touch his head.”

At the same time, the priest Eli was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking she was drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord! I am a woman in great distress; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink. I was pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not think your servant a worthless woman; I was only speaking out of my anguish and misery.”

Eli said to her, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have requested.” She replied, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer downcast.

Early the next morning they worshiped before the Lord, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the Lord remembered her. She conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 1:21-28

At that time, Jesus came to Capernaum and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.