before christmas

Love is meant to bear fruit.
In the absence of green stems of forgiveness, reconciliation, sacrifice, and generosity, love would be meaningless, empty words and deeds as brittle as the twigs of hollow brush.

In the house where Hannah dwelled, she was loved by her husband Elkanah and ridiculed by her rival, Elkanah's other wife Peninnah. No manner of Elkanah's caring gestures
could compensate for Hannah's inability to bear his child. On a perfect balance sheet of harmonious households, Hannah's apronstrings should have tied to as many children as Peninnah's. But children are not parcels of fairness nor are they created as pawns in a domestic battleground.

In the darkness of Hannah's pain, her silent prayer mushroomed.
A fervent prayer for a son whom Hannah would not keep to herself, but intentionally sacrifice to the Lord's service. Scripture says Hannah's prayer was remembered by God. Did it remind him of his own love for Jesus? Generations later, Hannah's prayer was carried in Mary's heart, as she, too recognized sacrifice born of truest love.

Hannah prayed:
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in Your salvation.
There is no one holy like the Lord.
There is no one besides You!
And there is no rock like our God.

And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

Hannah:
Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant [words] come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by Him.
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but the feeble are clothed with strength.

Mary:
He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;
He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.


Hannah:
Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving [hunger] no more.
The barren woman gives birth to seven,
but the woman with many sons pines away.


The Lord brings death and gives life;
He sends [some] to Sheol, and He raises [others] up.


The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;
He humbles and He exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.
He seats them with noblemen
and gives them a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's;
He has set the world on them.

Mary:
He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

Hannah:
He guards the steps of His faithful ones,
but the wicked are silenced in darkness,
for a man does not prevail by [his own] strength.

Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;
He will thunder in the heavens against them.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to His king;
He will lift up the horn of His anointed.

Mary:
He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,
just as He spoke to our forefathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.