There are three major songs by women in the Bible. We heard Hannah’s song read aloud and sang a modern interpretation of Mary’s song. These songs are songs of thanksgiving and prophecy. You probably know about the Psalms many of which are attributed to David. You may know the Song of Songs said to be written by Solomon. There are three songs by women you should know about. There is Miriam’s song, Hannah’s song, and Mary’s song. The names Mary and Miriam’s are the same name, by the way, just translated differently. We’ll stick with it, though, because it is easier to differentiate the two women that way.

Miriam is a prophet and sister of Moses. Miriam’s song is celebrating God’s defeat of the Egyptians. Her song is short and to the point. God destroyed the Egyptians including their horses and chariots. Miriam stopped to give thanks for God’s protection.

Like Miriam, I give thanks for what has already been accomplished: thanks for democracy, thanks for the justice there is, thanks for all the people working for a better world. I give thanks for the peace that we do have. I give thanks for elders who are cared for. I give thanks for the refugees who have made it to safety. I give thanks for the poor who have been fed. I am still not satisfied. 

After Miriam came Hannah. Hannah is the wife of Elkanah and most famous for being the mother of Samuel. Elkanah’s other wife, Penninah, taunted Hannah for not having any children. Despite Elkanah doting on her, Hannah remained unhappy. 

Hannah’s song is in response to the birth of her son after a long time waiting for a child. She has experienced a reversal of fortune now that she has a child. She sings for joy. She praises God for the defeat of her enemies. Like Miriam, Hannah gives thanks. She also warns against bragging. It is way to easy to lord it over people when you win. She praises God rather than saying how great she is.

Beyond giving thanks, Hannah foretells what is to come. She speaks of a great reversal. She proclaims God’s good deeds before they have come to pass.

On a more personal note she sings of the reversal of the infertile woman being with child and the woman with many children becoming depressed. She sings of raising up the powerless to positions of power and honor. She is singing of the goodness of God and calling on God to fulfill God’s promises.

I sympathize with Hannah. I did not have children at the expected time. I was neither married nor a parent in my early twenties as was expected where I grew up. My son Jay did not come into my life till I was 30. I have no problem imagining praising God for my son.

What I don’t know and can never truly comprehend is what it felt like to be a childless woman in her culture. It wasn’t just pressure from Penninah, but everyone in her culture telling her in myriad ways that she was less for not having a child. Somehow, Hannah carried on. She kept hope for the future and kept trying to have children. 

 I still have a hard time imagining giving my son away like Hannah did with hers when he was just weaned to be raised by a priest, dedicated to God for life.

I am so grateful for my family. Leigh and Jay mean so much to me. There is, however, something particularly powerful about having a child. Having a child like Hannah is turning into hope especially after so long without success. Raising a child like the priest, Eli, is stepping into hope. Let us all choose to hope. Not all of us will be mothers or raise children. Starting a new relationship is to hope. Investing in an existing relationship is to hope. Planting a new garden or starting a new venture is to hope.

Mary’s song is the most well-known of the three. It is often called the Magnificat for the first word in its Latin translation. There are over one thousand versions of the Magnificat set to music (https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/magnificat) The Magnificat is sung daily during evening prayer in some traditions. Mary’s song is also occasioned by a son, but unlike Hannah, Mary sings before his birth.

Mary praises God for caring about her when she was not honored or praised by others. Mary’s shame was not being without child, but from having a child from an unknown source. Like Hannah, Mary sings of a reversal of fortune for the rich and the poor. Mary praises God for God’s great deeds.

Mary’s son would bring hope for a new age–a better world.

All children bring hope for the future. We place our hopes in them. We know they will be around long after we are gone. We hope that the lessons we teach them will improve their lives and help them to better the world around them.

Not all of us will raise a child like Mary. Mentoring makes a difference. Not all of us will be with small children. Even when the next generation are adults they still can grow from your wisdom. To invest in the next generation is to hope.

As we turn towards Christmas, we remember Jesus and the hope he brought to the world. He brought the hope that comes with every generation, but also a greater hope for a coming Reign of God. As he grew, those around him experienced the first fruits of that kingdom. He lived into the kingdom to come. He stepped forward in hope during a time of oppression. It is also part of Christian tradition that he will come again one day to bring about the fullness of God’s reign on earth when justice will prevail and everyone will have in abundance. 

During times of tumult, we can proclaim God setting things right as Miriam did of what had been done. Give thanks for what has already been accomplished. Give thanks for where Spirit has been active your life. Even more so declare what is to come as did Hannah and Mary. Proclaiming the good that is to come is transformative to the community proclaiming it. Hope changes you for the better. Claim and proclaim God’s justice. Proclaim a world transformed. Live into hope. Let your light shine before it has all come to pass.

• How do you celebrate your victories?
• How do you hold onto hope during dark times?
• How does hope affect your outlook on life and view of the world?
• How does being grateful keep you grounded?