Daily Readings - Mon Jan 15 2018
First Reading - 1 Samuel 15.16-23
1 Samuel
Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Gospel - Mark 2.18-22
Mark
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about obedience and renewal. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of Saul, the first king of Israel, who fails to obey God's command to destroy the Amalekites. Despite his excuses, Samuel makes it clear that obedience to God is more important than any sacrifice or offering. This story serves as a reminder that our actions must align with God's will, and disobedience can lead to serious consequences.
The Gospel reading from Mark presents Jesus addressing questions about fasting. He uses the parable of the groom and the wineskins to illustrate that His teachings bring a new era, requiring new approaches. Just as old wineskins cannot hold new wine, old traditions may not be suitable for the new covenant He is introducing. This teaches us about the importance of being open to change and renewal in our spiritual lives.
These readings connect through themes of obedience and adaptability. Saul's story emphasizes the gravity of disobeying God, while Jesus' parables highlight the need for openness to new spiritual directions. In our daily lives, we are called to listen to God's voice and remain flexible, embracing the Holy Spirit's guidance. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize obedience and be open to change, allowing God to lead us in new and transformative ways.