Marc Chagall: Hannah Praying to God (ca. 1956)
Mark 13:1-8
New Birth
These days,
The cult of personality,
Like those days,
Purports to be reality,
With many taken in
By blasting hype and rumored spin.
But Jesus knew,
That those with his mentality,
Would rage eschew,
Since every nationality
Someday will grin
To see in neighbor, kith and kin.
Scott L. Barton
As [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said
to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus
asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here
upon another; all will be thrown down.”
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the
temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will
this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be
accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you
astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many
astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must
take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there
will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.
+ + +
1 Samuel 1:4-20 + 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah's Hymn
Tune: St. Catherine (Faith of Our Fathers; Jesus, Thy
Boundless Love to Me)
Hannah knew how her Elkanah
Forsook her not, nor cast aside,
And as a spendthrift, even more,
On Hannah, lavished love with pride.
Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,
Teach us God's love makes all things new!
Letting loose doubt the Lord provides,
Pouring out faith set Hannah free,
Her wish bore fruit by love and prayer,
And what she asked for, came to be.
Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,
Teach us God's love makes all things new!
"There is no Holy One like the LORD,"
Thus Hannah prayed, exulting that day;
Girding the feeble, thwarting the proud,
Love for the world will find a way!
Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,
Teach us God's love makes all things new!
Hannah could never know some day
Her prayer would be the model for
Another pray-er who magnified
The Lord, rejoicing in whom she bore!
Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,
Teach us God's love makes all things new!
Scott L. Barton
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions
to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a
double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. Her
rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had
closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the
house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not
eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not
eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and
presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat
beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and
prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if
only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not
forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will
set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink
neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she
continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying
silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought
she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle
of yourself? Put away your wine.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a
woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have
been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a
worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation
all this time.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the
petition you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in
your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her
husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the
Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife
Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a
son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”
+ + +
Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my
strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice
in my victory. “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there
is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come
from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are
weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were
hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many
children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol
and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also
exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash
heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the
pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will
guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in
darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be
shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends
of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his
anointed.”
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