When God remembers

December 22, 2022 - Thursday, 4th Week of Advent

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

Our responsorial psalm today is taken from the First Book of Samuel sung by Hannah, the mother of Samuel. The book of Samuel begins by telling us about Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. The story of Hannah reminds us of three matriarchs who were also barren: Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel. And so, we immediately suspect that the barrenness of Hannah was not accidental. The Lord was going to do something about it, and the future child would be unique. And that is what happened. Hannah prayed and the Lord granted her request.

The song of Hannah, however, goes beyond the problem of barrenness. It was placed by the biblical author on her lips because of the statement that “the barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes” (1 Sam 2:5). But the entire song presents a profound biblical idea that the Lord reverses the circumstances of life. The powerful become weak, and the weak become strong; those who had plenty have nothing, and those who had nothing have plenty; the proud are put down and the humble are raised up. Only the Lord can do such miracles.

We are told that Peninnah taunted Hannah, year after year, for not having children (1 Sam 1:6-7). But, in the Jewish interpretation, that taunting contributed to Hannah’s fervent prayer for a child. Thus, “my enemies” mentioned at the beginning of that song cannot refer to Peninnah. Hannah’s enemies were the forces of death that made her womb barren. But even those powerful forces are no match for the Lord. To overcome barrenness is like defeating death. The womb that was like a wilderness becomes a fruitful land. Imagine the joy of a woman who after many years of prayer and waiting was finally able to conceive a child! Her disgrace is taken away and she sings: “I have triumphed through the Lord” (1 Sam 2:1).

The song of Mary in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-56) resembles the song of Hannah. Both women express their thanksgiving to the Lord for their miraculously conceived children. Both women proclaim the truth that the Lord reverses people’s fortunes. Finally, both women gave birth to the boys that would change the course of human history. Samuel would be a great prophet in Israel, and Jesus would deliver us from the forces of sin, evil, and death. In both stories, we witness the fulfilment of God’s promise of mercy. When God remembers, the barren womb becomes fruitful land and life triumphs over death.