Daily Readings - Mon Jan 20 2020
1 Samuel
16Then 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.17And 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?18And 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.19Wherefore 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?20And 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.21But 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.22And 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.23For 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.
Mark
18And 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?19And 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.20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.21No 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.22And 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, humility, and the nature of spiritual renewal. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the tragic fall of King Saul. Once chosen by God for his humility, Saul fails to fully obey the Lord’s command to destroy the Amalekites, choosing instead to spare their king and keep the best spoils for himself. Samuel rebukes him, emphasizing that obedience is far more pleasing to God than sacrifice. Saul’s failure to listen and trust in God’s plan leads to his rejection as king. This story reminds us that true leadership and faith require surrendering our will to God’s, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ question about why his disciples do not fast. He uses the parable of the groom and the patch of new cloth to explain that his presence among them is a time of joy and celebration, not fasting. He also warns that trying to combine the old with the new—whether it’s cloth, wineskins, or spiritual practices—will only lead to division and destruction. Jesus is emphasizing that his mission is not about patching up the old way of life but about bringing something entirely new. This requires openness, flexibility, and a willingness to let go of the past.
These readings call us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Saul, we often struggle with partial obedience, holding onto control or comfort instead of fully trusting in God’s plan. And like the Pharisees, we may cling to familiar traditions or practices without considering whether they are still life-giving. Jesus invites us to embrace the newness he brings, to let go of what is old and worn out, and to live with hearts that are open, humble, and ready to follow wherever he leads. May we learn to listen to God’s voice, to obey with courage, and to receive the fresh life he offers us.