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Confidence – have you ever done something when you have lacked confidence, when you were unsure of your ability to be successful at some task? I once rappelled down a rock wall and lacked confidence. I was so tense that by time I got to the bottom I was like a wet noodle, I was so weak. After some recovery time I had the chance to do it again and I relaxed, and with confidence that I could do it, I rappelled with ease down the same rock wall. Confidence made all the difference. And, I would like to suggest that the two key figures from our scriptures today, Hannah and Jesus, are attractive to us and others because of their confidence.
You will recall from yesterday's reading from 1st Samuel that Elkanah had two wives: Hannah, from our reading today, whom he loved; and Peninnah, who bore him children. The text right before our text today speaks of how Peninnah, the rival of Hannah, used to upset Hannah by constantly reminding her of how it was the Lord who had left her barren. (Key case that ended polygamy!! ;)
In a way Hannah believes that this is true. She lacks confidence, both in her relationship with God and with herself, especially in her relationship with Peninnah. So, while staying near the sanctuary at Shiloh, Hannah goes to pray to the Lord for relief. The text says that she prayed in "bitterness," presumably because of Peninnah's teasing, and/or because of her childlessness. She prays fervently and has this encounter with Eli and invites him to pray for her, too. Then she goes back to Elkanah and Peninnah. She ate and drank, and no longer appeared downcast. Something has changed.
It seems that she was feeling relieved through her prayer, and by her encounter with Eli and his peaceful and confident encouragement. At the very least she seems to have gotten over the effects of the ridicule of her rival, Peninnah, if not also ceased to fret over the fact that she had not born a child up to this time. She has a renewed confidence about her life based upon her relationship with the Lord.
In the Gospel text today Jesus teaches "with authority" and this is remarkable to the people. Of course, he has just emerged from his long sojourn in the wilderness after his Baptism in the Jordan. A time of testing, prayer, and preparation. Yesterday we heard how he called Simon and Andrew to leave their nets and follow him, and they do it. Jesus must have exuded confidence in his call to them, a confidence that was founded in Jesus' own relationship with his Abba – Father.
It is this confidence with which Hannah emerges from the sanctuary at Shiloh, and this confidence, a.k.a. "authority," with which Jesus teaches, that seem to tell us something of their relationship with God. People who are confident in their relationship with God are at ease, attractive, and appealing. It is not necessary to say that they have been specially blessed by God, only that they have a strong and sound relationship with God.
We can be confident people, too, confident believers and followers of Christ. What is required is a relationship with God, fostered through prayer, study, faith-sharing with others, and charitable service to and among others. We come here today both with confidence and with a desire to under-gird that confidence with the grace of this Eucharist and the grace of sharing with a community of faith in prayer.
At the end of this Mass may you, in the words of the holy man Eli: "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel, the God of Jesus, the Christ, grant you what you have asked..."
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