Hannah’s Song: In bringing her son to the Lord, Hannah also brings her own worship in a prayer-song. It was not unusual to come to the shrine, or later the temple, with particular praise at times of new birth or special celebration. Neither was it unusual for a woman to bring theological reflection in song; the songs of Miriam and Deborah immediately come to mind. Centuries later, Mary picks up Hannah’s song as she rejoices at the thought of her own son. Whether this song was Hannah’s own composition or a known psalm that she chose to use on this occasion is somewhat irrelevant. It is probably not irrelevant, however, that the beginning of the book’s main theologizing statement comes from the lips of a woman. We have here a reflection on power and powerlessness—in particular the power of G…