Like the Israelites in I Samuel 4, we often are tempted to put God "in a box" when lost the daily battle against sin self, that is, we are tempted to recreate God into our image, a God that we can use to do what we want.

As the man of God pronounces God's curse against Eli and his family, we are reminded that the richness of God's grace always provides the backdrop for the conviction and correction of our sin.

When all of our human priests show that they are not immune from the effects of sin, God's priest, Jesus Christ, is always standing to mediate for us through the priestly work of the Cross.

How God uses everything in our life for the good of becoming more like Jesus.

When seen through the story of the Magi, the carol

The Christmas carol Silent Nights points us back to the true beginning of the Christmas Story in John 1, and they both remind us that with God, there is always more than meets the eye.

The Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" point us back to the Christmas story of Luke 2, and reminds us of the grace we have received because of this "good news of great joy", and calls us to be radically interrupted by God's message from heaven each and every day.

The carol

Hannah's prayer of praise to God reminds us that God is the ultimate

Hannah's faithfulness to her vow to give her only son to God is a powerful reminder that because God gave His only Son, everything we have and are belongs to God. Therefore we are also called to give back everything to God for His glory.