Daily Readings - Mon Jan 15 2024
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 that challenge us to reflect on our relationship with God and our spiritual practices. The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts the confrontation between Samuel and Saul, where Saul's partial obedience and self-justification lead to his rejection as king. Samuel emphasizes that obedience to God's will is far more important than outward acts of sacrifice or religious rituals. This story reminds us that true faith requires listening to and following God's voice, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.
The Gospel reading from Mark presents Jesus addressing the question of fasting. Jesus uses the parables of the groom and the new cloth and wineskins to illustrate that His teachings bring a newness that cannot be contained within the old traditions. Just as new wine must be put into new wineskins, Jesus' message requires a fresh and open heart, willing to embrace change and growth. This challenges us to move beyond rigid practices and instead focus on the deeper spiritual renewal that Jesus offers.
Both readings invite us to examine our own lives. Are we like Saul, justifying our actions and holding onto what is familiar, or are we open to the new life and teachings that Jesus offers? Let us ask ourselves: Am I truly listening to God's voice and following His will, or am I content with superficial religious practices? May we have the courage to embrace the newness that Jesus brings, letting go of old ways and allowing His Spirit to transform us. In doing so, we will find a deeper connection with God and live more authentically as His disciples.