Monday...

Today is Monday, January 13, 2014.
Monday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time

Good Morning.

A thought for the day:
God works providentially in the events of our lives.

The Church’s 1st reading for today: 1 Samuel chapter 1 verses 1-8

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name,
a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim.
He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu,
son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah;
Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city
to worship the LORD of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh,
where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were ministering as priests of the LORD.
When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice,
he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah
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,
Peninnah would approach her,
and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
Her husband Elkanah 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?”


On these opening pages of 1 Samuel we are introduced to a family drama. Here is the story of Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Immediately, we encounter the tension in this family which is a result of Hannah's barrenness. Hannah's husband loves her and treats her with kindness. When they traveled to Shiloh on the day of sacrifice, Elkanah would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to her sons and daughters, but he would give a double portion to Hannah, and the text tells us he did this because he loved her even though she was barren. The conflict in the story is the result of Peninnah's verbal abuse of Hannah. Peninnah would constantly chide and "provoke her severely" because of her barrenness. Every time they would go up together to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would criticize and scold Hannah for being barren. Hannah would be driven to tears by the constant belittling, feeling that she could not take it anymore. She was so upset that she lost her appetite and could not eat. Elkanah was not aware of the emotional strain that Hannah was under. He seemed to be totally out of touch with the seriousness of the situation. He reveals his lack of perception by saying to Hannah, "Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" Sadly, both lover and provoker treat Hannah as God-forsaken.

Interesting isn’t it: how we can hurt the very people we claim we love.

How’s your family doing today? Are you sure? Did you inquire or are you simply assuming?


God bless,
Father Pat



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