a reading from the book of Genesis.

Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Isaac grew on the day of the child's weaning. Abraham had a great feast.

Sarah noticed that the son whom Hagar, the Egyptian, had born to Abraham,

was playing with her son, Isaac.

And so she demanded of Abraham, drive out that slave and her son.

No son of that slave is going to share in the inheritance of my son, Isaac.

Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on the count of his son Ishma. But God

said that Abraham, do not be distressed about the boy or about your slavewoman. He did the

demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you. For it is through Isaac, the descendants

shall bear your name. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a great nation of him also, since he too

is your offspring.

Early the next morning, Abraham got some bread in the skin of water and gave them to

Hagar.

Then placing a child on her back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Virhshiba, the water in the skin was used up.

So she put the child down under a shrub and then went and sat down opposite him about a blow shot away.

For she said to herself, let me not watch the child die as she sat opposite

Ishmael he began to cry God heard the boy's cry and God's messenger called to

Hagar from heaven what is the matter Hagar don't be afraid God has heard the boys cry

in the plight in this plight of his arise lift up the boy and hold him by the hand,

for I will make of him a great nation.

And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.

...