Happy new year! This is the first day of the first week in ordinary time.
Over the next few weeks we are taken on a whistle-stop tour of the Deuteronomic history books - Joshua, Judges, Samuel and on through to the book of Kings. These are the history of the people of God while they were ruled by kings rather than (as later on) governed by prophets.
This week we are given the first chapter of the book of Samuel to read. Day by day the story unfolds of how Samuel came to be conceived in answer to a prayer, and was destined to become King. Listening to the readings at Mass is a good way to take in long stories like that of Samuel - whose life is told over two complete books in the library of the bible. But only if one is sure to get to Mass every day! We can not all do this - so a great alternative would be to read the entire books of Samuel just as one would read any Novel - but perhaps a little more slowly, allowing this part of the history of salvation to flow over your mind like a good wine flows over your palette. Only then can you savour the fullness of God's love for his people.