In the first reading today from 1 Samuel 15, we see a bit of the sneakiness of King Saul. Samuel has to call him out on it. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 2, Jesus talks about pouring new wine into old wineskins. It just doesn’t work. What He means is that when we try to pour the new wine of the Spirit into our old selves (the old wineskin), it won’t cut it. We must become a new creation in Christ.
God gave Saul a mission. Now, Saul fulfilled the mission, but he took things one step too far. After defeating the Amalekites, he “pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the Lord.” Saul justified his actions, saying that he did it so that his men could offer a fine sacrifice to the Lord. God wasn’t buying it. Samuel tells him, “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams…Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”
Obedience is tough. No one really likes to be told what to do. It's especially hard when we think we know better than God, or try to justify our actions like Saul. We must obey the teachings of Christ, as elucidated by His Church. Remember, these teachings are for our good. And disobedience has a price, just as it did for Saul. It took a while for the price of Saul's disobedience to come to fruition. But in the end, disobedience to God never works out.
Father, give us the grace of obedience, that we may follow Christ's teachings and be pleasing to you. Amen.
I tried to call in before you left but it didn’t work out, I wanted to share how much you affected my life. You taught me about our mother Mary, you taught me how to love and respect who she is. You taught me about her parents about Saint Joseph foster father of Jesus, you taught me about the rosary because of you, I started the rosary for lent and then kept it because of your teachings and because of guests you had, you taught me about church and our Lord in the Eucharist you taught me about confession and after 30 years, I went back to confession. I learned a lot from guests you had that converted. I loved the Easter shows you had with all the teachings. I called in for prayer and had answers. I thank you for all your teachings and I am a better person because of you. May God continue to bless you.