22 December 2020 - Mass for December 22nd of the Advent season - 1 Samuel 1:24-28

    The first and second books of Samuel in the Old Testament tell the story of Samuel, Saul, and David.  Yesterday, from the Gospel of Luke, we heard how Elizabeth, who was an older lady and was barren, conceived a son in her old age.  That son would grow up to be John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared a way for Jesus and his ministry.  In our first reading today, we hear of Samuel’s mother, Hannah.  Hannah was also barren.  She had also lost hope of ever being able to bear children.  God destined Samuel for a special mission, so God played a major role in the circumstances of his birth.  God answered Hannah’s prayers.  After his birth, she and her husband make the prescribed sacrifices and the Temple.  Then, with great humility of heart, Hannah follows God’s instructions, presenting Samuel to the prophet Eli so that he may fulfill the mission to which he is called.   God not only gives Hannah a son.  He also gives a prophet to the people of Israel.  God gives hope where there is no hope.  God brings joy where there is little joy.  I watched an interview where a famous actress spoke about the grief she was going through in dealing with the death of a loved one and in the other harsh realities she is feeling in life.  She says that she cried out to God in her pain and her grief.  She was hurting so badly.  She said that she was very angry at God.  She asked God why he had left her, why she could not feel his presence.  She said that she heard God say to her - I was not the one who stepped away.  And she realized that this was the truth, that she needed to reform her life and turn back to God.  She said she really took that to heart.  The advice that she gives others that in the midst of our grief, our sufferings, and our struggles we need to turn to God.  I thought about the humility and fidelity of Hannah in thanking God for the birth of her son.  I thought of the humility of this actress to admit that she needed to turn back to God.  In these last days of Advent, I also think of the humility of Mary and the gift that Jesus is to us.