💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 15 💖

First Reading - 1 Samuel 15:16-23

Gospel - Mark 2:18-22

We usually prefer to buy a product based on a good brand. This is because the brand of the product determines the quality of the product. We evaluate a product on the basis of its affiliation with a brand. In the same way, the readings of today invite us to enhance our quality of discipleship by being closely connected to Jesus.

The first reading speaks about the rejection of Saul as the king of Israel. Samuel outlines a reminder to the king that though he was now "head of the tribes of Israel", he could take no credit for it. It was the Lord who had taken him from being a nobody to being "king over Israel". The Lord gave Saul that position so that he might serve as the Lord's agent in carrying out the "mission" to wipe out the wicked Amalekites. Unfortunately, instead of destroying wickedness, Saul increased it by doing "evil in the eyes of the Lord" by bringing the Amalekite king alive; in addition, set aside the best livestock and brought them along. Samuel underlines that such partial obedience is akin to disobedience. It's because of the sin of disobedience of Saul, Samuel pronounces the judgement of God for his rejection as the king.

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us an important lesson regarding fasting. Responding to the question of some people, Jesus answers that fasting may be appropriate and inappropriate depending on the occasions. He further adds that the presence of kingdom of God in him is not a fitting time to fast but there will be an occasion when he will be absent from his disciples (concerning his passion, death and resurrection) and that will be a desirable occasion and not normative for the fasting. The passage further suggests that the way to God (salvation) is not through religious practices but through joyful association with Jesus, the bridegroom.

The passage also mentions the twin parables to teach the incompatibility of the old garment, wineskin (scribal Judaism) and the new garment, wineskin (Christianity). Jesus has inaugurated the kingdom of God and those who believe in him and live by his teachings become the part of this kingdom which is incompatible with old ritualistic practices.

Dear friends, many times we are concerned about the ritualistic life as Christians. The readings challenge us that our ritualistic practices may not be a necessary condition to belong to God but our obedience to His commandments. In the first reading, we heard that Saul was rejected as the king or as the chosen leader because he didn't obey the command of God and he presumed that ritualistic sacrifice would please God more than anything else and brought the best livestock along against the command of God. Saul was concerned about ritualistic life as the way to please God rather than keeping His command. Jesus, in the gospel, speaks that it's a joyful association with him can lead the believers to the kingdom rather that ritualistic practices. Today we are to examine ourselves - Do we really belong to Jesus? It's not enough that we come to mass and do all ritualistic practices and don't live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus. They are needed but may not be obligatory condition to belong to God. We can belong to Him by carrying out his commandment as he has enjoined on us in the Beatitude and in love-commandment. Let's be a disciple of Jesus by living as he has taught to live.