Hannah and Mary
1 Samuel 1:24–28; Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1, 4–8; Luke 1:46–56
Hannah was barren and had implored the Lord in earnest and fervent prayers to give her a child. Eventually, the Lord blessed her with a son, and after she had weaned the infant Samuel, she brought the child to the temple at Shiloh in fulfillment of the promise she had made. Let us learn to honor our promises.
Hannah gave thanks to the Lord with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, together with a beautiful hymn of praise. Today’s psalm, taken from the First Book of Samuel, presents us with Hannah’s hymn of praise. She exhorts us to embrace gratitude for God’s blessings.
Similarly, the gospel presents us with the magnificat. (Luke 1:46-56). The hymn goes to show the similarities between Hannah and Mary. Hannah can be understood as a type or a foreshadow of Mary. We may learn so much from them, including how to persevere in the face of adversity, pray fervently, fulfill our vows, and live a life of gratitude.
Let us pray
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death, willed to redeem it by the coming of your only begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who confess his incarnation with humble fervor may merit his company as their redeemer. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever? Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
