Has God forgotten you?

Last week, I shared an email reflection with you about the Old Testament connection to Simeon in the Temple.

This week I’d like to share another connection from the Presentation of Jesus in Chapter 2 of Luke’s gospel.

This time we’re looking at Anna the prophetess.

There is very little about Anna in the gospel of Luke, but the key to understanding Anna is Mary‘s Magnificat in the previous chapter.

Mary’s Magnificat is only 10 lines long, but it is nearly identical in content and in sequence to the Canticle of Hannah from the first book of Samuel. (Below you can find a comparison.)

The names Hannah and Anna are identical in Hebrew. So who is Hannah in the Old Testament? She is the mother of the prophet Samuel. She had been barren for many years to the point that she prayed day and night at the temple with tears so loud that people thought she was drunk.

Then something unusual happened. After many years of praying for a child, we are told that “the Lord remembered her.” (1 Sam. 1:19)

So she conceived and bore a son.

When her son was born and old enough, she not only took him to the Temple to dedicate him but gave him completely to God. The priest Eli, then, raised the boy, Samuel, and he grew up to be a significant figure in the emerging nation of Israel, and his life foreshadows Jesus in several ways. (See more below)

What’s fascinating to me, and what I hope can be a benefit to you in prayer, is the idea that the Lord *remembered* Hannah.

Have you ever found yourself repeating the same prayer to God? Praying for healing? Praying for a job? Praying for reconciliation? Praying for victory over addiction?

Praying to conceive children? Praying for the health of your children? Praying for your children’s vocation? Praying for your children to come back to the faith?

If you have experienced long-suffering in prayer, let Hannah of the Old Testament be a consolation to you. God can hear your prayers, and one day will answer your prayers.

God remembered Hannah.  God remembered Noah. (Gen. 8:17) Jesus promised to remember the “good thief” on the cross. (Luke 23:42)

And through Christ, we can be assured that God will remember us.

I say this because the word “remember” shows up in Mary’s Magnificat. Mary says, “[God] has come to help His servant Israel, *remembering* the mercy He promised to Abraham and his descendants.” (Luke 1:54-55 paraphrased)

Jesus remembers you. He wants to help you in your need. He is merciful towards you.

And He is inviting YOU to remember Him in the Eucharist today.

In Luke’s gospel, He says, “I have eagerly desired to share Passover with you.” (Luke 22:15)

And after turning bread into His very flesh, and offering Himself to us, He says, “do this in *remembrance* of me.” (Luke 22:19)

Let us “remember” Jesus in prayer, that He may “remember” us in His answer to our prayers.

Join me in saying this prayer which is said in between each set of “Hail Mary’s” in the Seven Sorrows Rosary:

“Most merciful Mother, *remind* us always about the suffering of your Son, Jesus.”

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SIGNIFICANCE OF SAMUEL
Samuel is significant because he was the last of the judges, one of the first prophets of Israel, a priest, and the person who established the kingdom in Israel by anointing Saul as the first king.

THE PRESENTATION AS FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
By taking Jesus to the Temple, Mary and Joseph are fulfilling the Law of Moses. The Dedication of Jesus fulfills the Mosaic covenant prescribed in Exodus 12:1-2, and the covenant with Abraham, as described in Leviticus 12:1-8. It also fulfills the Nazirite vow described in Numbers 6.

MARY’S MAGNIFICAT and the CANTICLE OF HANNAH
SIMILARITIES;
* My heart exults in the LORD (1Sam.2:1)/ my soul magnifies the LORD (Lk.1:46)
* I rejoice in salvation (1Sam.2:1)/ my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Lk.1:47)
* None is holy like the LORD (1Sam.2:2)/ Holy is His name  (Lk.1:49)
* Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger (1Sam.2:5)/ He has filled the hungry with good things (Lk.1:53)
* He brings down (1Sam.2:6) / He has brought down the mighty (Lk.1:52)
* He exalts (1Sam.2;7) and raises up the poor (v8)/ He has exalted those of humble estate (Lk.1:52)
* Adversaries broken to pieces (1Sam.2:10)/ He has scattered the proud (Lk.1:51)

CONTRASTS:
* Heart (1Sam.21) —> soul (Lk.1:46)
* Mouth (1Sam.21) / spirit Lk.1:47)
* No self-reference / “all generations shall call me blessed”  (Lk.1:48)
* The LORD remembered Hannah by giving her offspring (1 Sam. 1:19)/ The LORD remember His promise to Abraham and his offspring (Lk 1:54-55)

1 Samuel 2
Canticle of Hannah
1 My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
3  Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4  The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
5  Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.
9  “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.
10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”


Luke 1
Mary’s Magnificat
46 “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48  for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49  for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50  And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52  he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
53  he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55  as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Copyright © 2024 Carl Brown