FIRST READING                    ISam. 1:1a, 2-8
Hannah’s rival hurt her
because the Lord had kept her from having children.

Beginning of the First Book of Samuel

There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim,
a Zuphite from Ramathaim, named Elkanah.
Elkanah had two wives;
one was named Hannah, the other Peninnah.
Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
Elkanah went to Shiloh every year
to bow down before God,
the Lord of the heavenly forces,
and to offer sacrifices to Him.
The priests of the Lord in Shiloh
at that time were Hophni and Phinehas, two sons of Eli.
When Elkanah offered his sacrifice,
he gave his wife Peninnah
and her sons and daughters a share,
but to Hannah he gave an extra share,
for Hannah was his favourite wife,
even though the Lord had closed her womb.
Her rival, however, hurt her again and again
and mocked her,
because the Lord had closed her womb.
And every year,
when Hannah went up to the temple of the Lord,
Peninnah would provoke her;
then Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
And Elkanah would ask her,
“Hannah, why are you weeping?
Why are you not eating and why are you so sad?
Am I not worth more to you than ten sons?”

INTERLUDIUM             Ps . 116(115), 12-13, 14-17, 18-19

I will praise You with sacrifices, Lord.
Alleluia.

How can I express my gratitude
for all that the Lord has given me?
I lift up the cup of sacrifice,
I call upon the Name of the Lord.

I will fulfil my vows
where all his people can see.
For precious in his sight
is the life of those who honour him.

O Lord, I am your servant,
your servant, the son of your handmaid,
you have loosened my bonds.

With sacrifices I will praise You,
I call upon the Name of the Lord.

I will fulfil my vows
where all His people can see,
in the forecourt of Your temple,
in Your Jerusalem.

ALLELUIA                    Ps . 25(24), 4c, 5a

Alleluia.
Teach me your ways, Lord;
guide me according to your word.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                Mk.1:14-20
Repent and believe in the Good News.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

After John the Baptist was arrested,
Jesus went to Galilee
and proclaimed God’s Good News there.
He said:
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Good News.”

As Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon’s brother, Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

A little further on, He saw James, the son of Zebedee,
with his brother John;
they too were in the boat, preparing their nets.
He called them immediately.
They left their father Zebedee
with the day labourers in the boat and followed Him.