1 Sam 15:16-23 / Mark 2:18-22

A half-truth is no truth at all; it is actually a disguised lie. Similarly, a "half-obedience" is no obedience at all; it is a disguised disobedience. It's like we are asked to sweep the floor and we sweep all the dust to one corner without clearing it into the bin. So we did sweep the floor but the purpose of sweeping the floor is not accomplished.

Nowadays the word "obedience" seems to be used only in a limited way. It is often used on children when they are told to obey their parents as if they had a choice. Even in the military, obedience is not a choice, and it is carried out under threat of punishment.

In the 1st reading, Samuel had to confront Saul about his disobedience. But Saul protested. He said that he did obey the voice of the Lord. Then from his own mouth, the truth came forth. He spared Agag the king of the Amalekites, for whatever reason, and he also took the choice sheep and oxen from the ban, so as to offer for sacrifice to the Lord. But Samuel said: Is the pleasure of the Lord in holocausts and sacrifice, or in obedience to the voice of the Lord❓

Disobedience is like those old wineskins that will be destroyed mentioned in the gospel by Jesus. So fasting and penance are still ways to express our love for God; but in Jesus, the way of obedience brings about a deeper meaning to fasting he and doing penance.💕

When applied to the spiritual observances of our faith like fasting and doing penance and observing the precepts of the church, we need to ask ourselves if we know the reason and purpose of such observances🙄. The new wine of Jesus’ teaching needs to be contained in new wineskins. And part of the problems of the Church ⛪in certain parts of the world where Christians are falling away can be traced to our unwillingness to let go of old wineskins.

We too should remember that it is God’s will in our lives that is paramount. Our greatest good is in making that will our own. To think that God will be happy with us simply by our piling up religious exercises is misguided piety.👌🏼

Let us pray that our minds and hearts will be like new wineskins that will be able to hold the wine of obedience to the Lord. Amen.🙏🏻

Have a grace filled working week.