Monday, Second Week in Ordinary Time
First Reading
1 Samuel 15:16–23
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Samuel reminded Saul of his anointing and mission. God commanded the destruction of the Amalekites, yet Saul spared the best of the spoil, offering it in sacrifice. Samuel declared, “To obey is better than sacrifice… rebellion is like the sin of divination.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 50:8–9, 16bc–17, 21, 23
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
The psalmist proclaims that God desires not empty ritual, but a heart that responds with integrity and obedience.
Gospel
Mark 2:18–22
People asked Jesus why his disciples did not fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees. Jesus replied that the wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them. He then spoke of the incompatibility of putting new wine into old wineskins, emphasising the fresh life his presence brings.
Reflection
Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on what it means to listen and respond to God with sincerity.
In the First Reading, Saul’s failure is not simply a lapse in ritual; it is a heart that has drifted from God’s instruction. Rebellion and stubbornness do not honour God even if external actions appear devout. The ancient prophets continually remind us that obedience rooted in trust matters more than ritual correctness.
In the Gospel, Jesus points to a new reality his coming inaugurates. The image of new wine and fresh wineskins presents a dynamic invitation: Christ’s life is not meant to be squeezed into old patterns that resist change, but to expand and renew our hearts.
Taken together, these readings invite us beyond performance, toward a faith that listens and adapts — a faith that embraces the new life Christ offers, not as a burden, but as freedom. Our discipleship grows when the heart of obedience meets the heart of Christ’s invitation. We are invited to let go of what binds us and to receive the new wine of his Spirit.
A moment of pause
Where in your life might God be inviting you to let go of old patterns and trust him with a new way forward?
No comments:
Post a Comment