A Message from Pastor Kaji

In your preparations for Sunday, I encourage you to take a good look at our text from 1 Samuel, which includes Hannah’s famous prayer of supplication (request). Note a few things, like Hannah’s state of spirit and mind. 

As someone less familiar with traditions of sacrifice, perhaps you, like I, wonder about Hannah’s promise to the Holy One. Did this make her prayer more effective? Are we required to do the same? I’ll address this in my preaching, but I am curious about what you’ve been taught about this kind of bargaining with God. Eli’s response is also telling. Does it tell you anything about what Hannah’s prayer might have looked like? Has anyone critiqued how you offer your own prayers? What impact has that had on your prayer life? Finally, take note of Hannah’s response. This interchange between Eli and Hannah – challenge and fortitude in our faith life – are where I’d like to focus, together. 

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday! 

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 1:1–6, 9–18 (Year B, p. 270):

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the second, Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man went up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the SOVEREIGN of heaven’s vanguard at Shiloh; there the two sons of Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, were priests of the HOLY ONE OF OLD. 4 And it was, on the day Elkanah sacrificed, he would give to his wife Peninnah and to all her daughters and her sons portions [of the sacrifice]. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the WOMB OF LIFE had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the WELLSPRING OF LIFE had closed her womb.

9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the HOLY ONE OF OLD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorposts of the temple of the HOLY ONE. 10 Hannah’s soul was embittered, and she prayed to the SOURCE OF LIFE, and she wept profusely. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “HOLY ONE of heaven’s legions, if only you would truly look on the affliction of your slave-woman, and remember me, and not forget your slave-woman, but will give to your slave-woman man-seed, then I will place him before you as a nazirite all the days of his life. He shall not drink wine or strong drink, and a razor shall not go upon his head.”

12 And it was as she increased praying before the FAITHFUL ONE, Eli was observing her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips moved; her voice was not heard. So, Eli took her for a drunkard. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you remain drunk? Put your wine away woman—away from you!” 15 Then Hannah responded and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman whose spirit has hardened; I have not drunk either wine or strong drink; I have been pouring out my soul before the GOD WHO HEARS. 16 Do not regard your slave as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking from my great grief and vexation all this time.”

17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to God.” 18 And Hannah said, “May your slave-woman find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.