1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 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. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

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Happy Christmas, we have made it to the end of our Advent journey. We arrive many times after long journeys to a bevy of questions from friends and family. How was your journey? Did you make good time? Were the roads bad? Did you see anything really neat? And so, as we arrive at the end of this Advent journey, Hannah’s story provides us a few questions to ponder.

First, has the journey caused your to pour out your heart’s deepest needs and desires to God as Hannah’s desire for a child did? If so, what promises have you made to God? Hannah promised to give God the thing she craved the most, her long sought child. Hannah made her promise not knowing if God would hear her petition, but she made it in faith. If you haven’t made a promise to God, as we have reflected again and again throughout this journey on God’s unfailing faithfulness, what’s holding you back? We should understand that our promise though should not be contingent on God doing something for us, but in light of all that God has already done through the promise of Jesus, it is the least we can offer back

Secondly, have you seen anything that has moved you to action? Eli had never seen anyone pray with such ferocity based off his perception that Hannah was drunk and so he intervened. Her story moved him to further declare the God would give her a child. Beloved, have you seen something in the narrative of God’s promises that has caused you to act? Such action may not be anything seen, but a quiet change of understanding that has caused you to grow closer in your relationship with God. Undoubtedly, what Eli saw changed him and Hannah and the same should be true for us as well.

Finally, has the hope of God fulfilling the promises elicited joy in your life such that folks can see it on your face as it did for Hannah? We are to joyfully bear witness to the hope brought through God’s fulfilling his promises through Jesus not simply on this most auspicious of days, but on the least auspicious of days. It is easy to do so today as the gift wrap rustles and the tree lights twinkle. The question that demands an answer is whether our face shows that we are no longer sad, but joyful through our relationship with Jesus long after everything has been packed up and put in the attic until next November. Only then, can we keep this day in our heart every day.

Thank you for journeying with us this Advent and once again, Happy Christmas.