Go in Peace: Hope for AdventNäide

Sometimes a simple “Go in peace” can change everything.

In today’s scripture reading, Hannah desperately wanted to become a mother. She and her husband tried and tried but they still couldn’t get pregnant.

And so, Hannah pulled out all the stops: she fasted for a time and then went to the temple to pray and ask God for a child. She even went so far as to make a vow to give her eventual son over to God for his service.

Scripture isn’t clear on why, but Hannah prayed silently while also moving her lips. Perhaps she was so low that she couldn’t vocalize her prayers, or perhaps her darkness was so great that the only light of hope she could muster was the prayer of her heart and not her mouth.

Regardless of why, Eli, the priest of the temple, sees her and thinks she’s drunk. He chastises her but she lets him know it’s quite the opposite: she isn’t taking anything in—she’s pouring out her soul before God.

Eli, chastened, tells her, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant you the petition you have made him.”

And that does it! Hannah cheers up, goes home, has dinner and, in due time, had her bouncing baby boy, Samuel.

Even after God heard Hannah’s prayer, she had to wait. Anticipation often goes hand in hand with God’s action—which is why we have the season of Advent. This is a time of waiting, a time of hoping, a time of letting God work in the background, even though it seems like nothing is happening or things are getting worse.

Hannah trusted God first to hear her and then trusted that God had heard her.

Whatever you’re waiting for, whatever you’re anticipating, whatever part of your soul you’re pouring out in front of God in such desperation that it makes people wonder what’s going on with you…

God is answering you with a Son of his own. He’s on his way. Christmas is coming.

Go in peace.