January 12, 2006, Monday of the first week in ordinary time.

A reading from the first book of Samuel.

There was a certain man from Ramatam, Elkanah by name,

a dew fight from the hill country of Ephraim.

He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tahoo, son of Zoof, and Ephraimite.

He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other, Penina.

Penina had children, but Hannah was childless.

This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city to worship the Lord of Host and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hoffnigh,, and Phineas were ministering as priest of the Lord.

When the day came for Alcana to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife,

Penina, and to all her sons and daughters, but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her,

though the Lord had made her barren. Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach

to her that the Lord had left her barren. This went on year after year.

Each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord,

Penina would approach her, and Hanna would weep and refuse to eat.

Her husband, Alcana, used to ask her,

Hannah, why do you weep and why do you refuse to eat?

Why do you grieve?

Am I not more to you than ten sons?

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm.

The response is, to you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?

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