12 January.  SEE: Jason asked, “When does a family really begin, with a couple or with a child?” Ordinary time in the Church’s year II begins with a love story from the book of 1 Samuel.  Elkanah the priest had two wives, one who had children and the other had none and was taunted about that by the other wife.  Elkanah loved his wife Hannah dearly but it really concerned him very much that she had not become pregnant after two years of marriage.  This situation happens quite commonly today too. Children are regarded as a natural aspect of married life, infertility is seen as a curse in some cultures and can be a great strain on a marriage. Sometimes the husband is concerned about his wife’s sadness, but often too about not having a child. “In our culture children are important.  What can I do?” Jason asked his friend.  “For a start why don’t you both go for fertility testing.  Nowadays we know it is not always the woman who is infertile. It can be very helpful, a good and  caring thing to do for both of you to discover where the problem lies.” 

JUDGE, reflect and share: Scripture: When Elkanah sacrificed he gave two portions to Penninah his wife and her children but only one to his wife Hannah whom he loved even though she was barren. Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband said to her, “why is your heart sad, Am I not more to you than ten sons?”  Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8.  Pope Francis. The more the couple tries to listen in conscience to God and his commandments and is accompanied spiritually the more their decision will be profoundly free of subjective caprice and accommodation to prevailing social mores.  AL 222.  In situations where a child is desired at any cost as a right for one’s self-fulfilment adoption and foster care correctly understood manifest an important aspect of parenting and raising of children. AL 180

ACT: Decide on possible appropriate action.   Conclude with prayer with those couples struggling with infertility.