December 22nd

December 22, 2022
Thursday of the 4 th Week of Advent
Readings: 1 Sm 1:24-28/Lk 1:46-56
Lauren Rieves: History Teacher
Today’s readings are from 1st Samuel chapters 1 verses 24 through 28, and
Luke chapter 1 verses 46 through 56. In the first reading Hannah is given a child
and in turn she then gives thanks to the Lord for her blessing of a son. So much of
this Advent season is spent in anticipation of not only the birth of Jesus, but also
for some the anticipation of gifts. For some people they spend this season asking
Santa for gifts, for others, you are praying to God for continual health and other
blessings. So, when the time has finally arrived, and Christmas morning happens,
many of those same people quickly unwrap their gifts and play with their items or
look to spend the money that they have received. For others, they continue to pray
for their blessings or miracles from God and wait in anticipation for the moment
their prayers have been answered. Then when the time has come and passed, we
must ask ourselves, did we turn back and give thanks?
Hannah throughout the first chapter prayed without ceasing. She continued
her race and faithfully asked God to give her a blessing of a child, and when the
moment came and she finally was blessed with a child Hannah did not stop her
prayer life, she continued to nurture her blessing, which in this instance be her
child, and then turned back to God in thanksgiving. Oftentimes we live in a world
where giving thanks is not always the first thing we turn to. We often look at what
we are receiving rather than what we are doing to help nurture our blessing and
give thanks in our own lives to God for all He has done and continues to do for us.
We as a society often ask what God can do for me, rather the question becomes
what we can do for God. In these readings God is showing us that what may turn
out to be a “simple” almsgiving or thank you really is the greatest gift of all.
Gratitude continues to go a long way. 
In the second reading of Luke chapter 1 we find Mary giving thanks to God
for all that God was doing and about to do for Mary. God continued to show Mary
favor when Elizabeth, who had previously been declared barren, was carrying her
child. It was in this moment of greeting Elizabeth that Mary turned back to God in
thanksgiving knowing that God looked upon Mary with great favor. God continues
to prove time and time again that nothing is impossible for Him. But it is our faith
and thanksgiving that we will continue to be the light that will shine upon those
gifts God has given us. This is the time of year where many will ask for gifts,
presents, blessings, miracles, and other wants, and while this isn’t a bad thing, we
must remember that this is also the time of year for giving, especially giving out
thanks. This is a great time of year to turn back and look at what a year it has been.

Think about all the blessings received and remember to be thankful for what you
have. It is very easy to get caught up in your own wants that we forget to thank
God, but he is always there waiting to listen to us, we just must be willing to turn
back to Him. So, let us all remember the lesson that Hannah and Mary have shown
us that when our blessings happen, we need to turn back to God in prayer and
thanksgiving for those same blessings.