"I was only pouring out my troubles to to the Lord...my prayers have been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery."
The words of Hannah to the priest Eli summon in us memories of our own struggles in life, the many times we poured out our troubles to the Lord in sighs and tears.
How often have we ourselves been filled with deep sorrow and misery and sought comfort in the Lord, allowing our hearts to be emptied before his face and in his presence?
How often have we, like Hannah, made a vow with the Lord, "if you remember me and do not forget me...I will give him to the Lord."
Though prayer should never be used as bargaining tool, the reality of prayer revealed in today's reading is important.
We must not go into prayer with predetermined vows and a predetermined will. Rather, we go to empty ourselves and only in emptying will God then give us the voice to speak to him and say the things we need to say.
Hannah's prayer is not primarily about her desire but rather about God's desire for her. Hannah's prayer has little to do with her bargaining in gaining what she wants but in God giving what he needs.
Only in pouring herself out in prayer in her "bitterness" and "weeping copiously" was Hannah then able to hear what God was inviting her to pray. It was God who empowered her to say the words and seek her request.
Emptying ourself before the lord is necessary; the words that flow from our emptiness is God speaking to us, informing us for what we should be asking.
God answers prayer not on a personal request but rather on understanding what is necessary for his plan to be unfolded in the world.
Every personal request before God is magnified to see how it fits in the big picture of serving to bring about a fulfillment of his will in the life of all.
Hannah's very personal prayer will be effective in the life of Israel as a nation. Her child shall be great and a man of God. Not because she knew how to bargain but because she asked in good faith, she first let God speak to her in her emptiness.
It would be irresponsible to treat prayer as a bargaining device; this would certainly make one a ne'er-do-well; but it is very responsible to empty oneself completely, listen for God's word and then voice his request that has echoed in our hearts from being in his presence.
Hannah shows us how to be responsible prayers in our relationship to God and the world.
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