THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
What can be said of the priest? Observe his wisdom: he did not seek to understand her suffering, nor did he wish to investigate its origins; rather, what he proclaimed was, “Go in peace; the Lord God of Israel will grant you your request that you have made of Him.” The woman turned the accuser into her advocate: such is the power of humility and gentleness. She had received ample counsel for her wrongs—she had found a mediator and intercessor in the very one who had criticized her.
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Prayer serves as the foundation of salvation, the source of the soul's immortality, the unwavering fortress of the Church, and a formidable defense against demons, yet for us who are faithful, it is a means of salvation. Through her prayers, she bore the holy prophet Samuel; for when nature failed her in childbirth, prayer swiftly rectified nature's shortcoming. This is the fruit of prayer—the birth of a prophet. Thus came Samuel, who shone in heaven, a worthy rival to the angels, transcending the limits of human nature. There should be an ear of prayer that stands out, exhibiting remarkable virtues and grace, surpassing those of the holy men before him, much like the most abundant and tallest ears of grain are distinguished among all others in the fields.