"As she (Hannah) continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, 'How long will you be drunken? Put your wine away from you.' But Hannah answered, 'No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.' Then Eli answered, 'Go in peace and the God of Israel (will) grant your petition which you have made to him.' " ... 1 Samuel 1:12-17 RSV

How many times have we prayed most fervently for something? A promotion at work, a passing grade in school, for winning touchdown by our favorite team, for respite from the stresses of the day, for love to be returned, for anything dear to our hearts? We may not have been answered in the way we expected or not at all. Does that mean that prayers are meaningless and useless? Not at all. Our prayers, which we hold close to ourselves, are wafted to the ears of God. God deals with them, as He deems fit and necessary.

In this scripture lesson, Hannah prayed with all her heart and soul for relief from her childless state. She felt useless as a woman because she could not have children to bless her marriage and her home. Her status among the other women of the tribe was despised and ridiculed. She was saddened for her husband. In pain and shame she turned to the only possible source of help known to her, God.

How does the story end for Hannah? Look in 1 Samuel 1:19-20 and see how God dealt with her prayers and what the effects on history were.

Lord, help us to understand that prayers are but ways that our souls reach out to You for peace, solace, help and grace. Grant us the patience to stay and listen for Your answer. Amen

Contributed by Michael
Published Sunday January 25, 2004
Week 9 of Liturgical Year C