The First Proclamation ... Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. .. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. .... Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” ... In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”
Prayerful Awareness Hannah was a barren woman. The verse 6 says that “the Lord had left her barren”. This shows, how the Jewish people looked at life’s events - either God permits things to happen or He directly does things. For them, God was a partner in life, someone who is closely connected with the events of their lives. In her desperation, Hannah could have been led to take a drastic action, but instead, she allowed herself to be led to God in prayer. So, an unhappy event in her life, had led her to a closer relationship with God. The apparent disappointment has turned out to be a “blessing” for her. Let us reflect on St. Paul’s own experience, verbalised in Romans 8:28. “Everything” here includes disappointments, failures, success, sickness etc. etc. “everything” under the sun. Let us become aware of the promise of God, as well as the obligations on our part. So, as we read verses 9-20, we see how Hannah pleaded to God. Let us look at the characteristics of her prayer. She prayed from the depths of her heart, and her whole being was involved - feelings and emotions too (vs. 10). It was not a selfish prayer, for she promised to offer the child to God. (vs.11). Her silent prayer lasted a long time (vs. 12, 13). It was a “pouring out” of her troubles to the Lord (vs.15) and was prompted by her deep sorrow and misery (vs. 16). The parting words in her prayer were “Think kindly of your maid servant” (vs. 18). These words reflect the attitude she had of herself - that of a servant, someone who is subordinate to God, someone who is prepared to do the bidding of God, someone who considers God as the Master. In verse 19, we see how God answered her prayer. She co-operates with God and is active in the pursuit of her desire, and God does His part. This prayer of Hannah, gives us some clues as to how we too can pray effectively. In today’s Second Proclamation (Matthew 1:21-28) we see that with the coming of Jesus into our world, God’s Kingdom or His rule too, has come upon us. God in Jesus, overpowers all evil spirits.
Prayer Starter My heart exults in the Lord. My Horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies, I rejoice in my victory (1 Samuel 2:1)
