hannah and samuel, elizabeth and john - december 22

Reading through our first reading today there seems to emerge certain things in God’s relationship with us.

First it would seem that God chooses his servants from families who have no hope of having children.  Beginning with Isaac until John the Baptist God chooses his servants either from barren wives or from very young virgins, from people you don’t expect to have a child or children.  Why is it that God chooses to pursue and fulfill his plans through barren women or through women you never expect to have children?  Is it to help us see things with hope – that God will fulfill his promises no matter what the obstacles are?  Is it to inculcate trust?  Probably.

Second, it would seem that God chooses his servants from families who have no one else to give but their all.  You cannot say anymore, sige lang a may manghod pa man.  It seems that when God asks, one should be willing to give everything – not just the surplus, not just the bilin, but all.  Remember the widow’s mite in the gospel?  Jesus praises her over others because the widow has given all that she had and not just the surplus.

Third, the greatest act of gratitude has always been since biblical times the giving back of a son or a daughter in the service of God.  Sons and daughters are gifts from God and to give that son or daughter back to God is the highest act of gratitude.  It is ironic.  But the greatest of all gifts, the gift of a son or a daughter can only be thanked enough when you give them back, or at the very least when there is a willingness to give him or her back to the Lord. Hannah prayed saying, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD.”  The offering of animal sacrifices, the offering of money pales in comparison to the offering of a son or daughter to God.

Fourth, when God answered prayers of Hannah he did not just give Hannah a son, God also gave his people a prophet.  We are always given more than what we ask for whenever we pray and whenever our prayers are answered.  You see God cannot be outdone in generosity.  God will always give more.  Remember the five loaves and four fishes which fed thousands and produced twelve baskets of surplus?  God is generous.

Fifth and last, Hannah and Samuel are prototypes of Elizabeth and John the Baptist, and also to a certain extent she is the prototype of Mary and Jesus.  Whenever we read about births in the bible we are reminded that each of us was created with a purpose, a mission, a vocation.  It is always important to get in touch with your purpose from time to time.  What is God’s mission for you?  Why did he create you?  Why are you here?  Get in touch with that.