“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
22nd December 2021
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WEDNESDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT – O King of Nations (O Rex Gentium)
1 Sm 1: 24-28; 1 Sm 2: 1,4-8; Lk 1: 46-56
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HANNAH, WOMAN OF GOD AND GODLY MOTHER
Hannah, the mother of Samuel, can be lauded as one of the supermoms of the Bible. She was truly a woman of God and a godly mother. Most Christian mothers are good moms, but very few of them are godly mothers. A good mom strives hard to make her child excel and succeed in life. A godly mom strives hard to give God to her child and teaches her child to give himself or herself to God.
Consider this biblical mom, Hannah. She was desperate to have a child. She prayed fervently for this intention, fasted, wept before the Lord, offered many sacrifices and even made a vow. And indeed, the power of her prayer, fasting and vow opened the heavens. She was blessed with a baby boy, Samuel. A Nazarite vow usually lasted for a limited time. But her vow was for all the days of his life!
Parenting is not easy. Hannah is a model for us today. If Christian parents themselves are not devout, men and women of faith, praying and worshipping people, they cannot inspire their children to walk the path of holiness. When they love their Church and priests, their children imitate them. The Catechism of the Church teaches us: “Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children. They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church.” (n. 2225)
Likewise, Hannah is the prefiguration of the oppressed people who find their redemption in God. Our God is the one who redeems. It was her barrenness and the perennial torments and taunts from Peninnah, that led Hannah to seek divine intervention. She knew to make a virtue out of the occasion. We too have our daily trials and difficulties that torment us. As we draw closer to the feast of Christmas, let us renew our faith, hope and confidence in Jesus who redeems!
Response: My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour
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