First Reading - 1 Samuel 15:16-23
Gospel - Mark 2:18-22
The First Reading from 1 Samuel presents a dramatic moment between Samuel and Saul. Saul believes he has been faithful because he has carried out religious actions and preserved what seemed valuable. Yet God’s word through Samuel is clear and unsettling. Obedience is better than sacrifice. God is not impressed by offerings that substitute for listening. Saul’s failure is not about ritual error, but about a heart that chose its own judgment over God’s command.
This reading reminds us that faith is not measured by how much we do for God, but by how deeply we listen to God. When obedience is replaced by self-justification, even good actions lose their meaning.
The Gospel from Mark takes this lesson further through the teaching of Jesus. Jesus is questioned about fasting, a respected religious practice. His response is surprising. He speaks of a wedding feast, not a funeral. The presence of the bridegroom changes everything. Old forms, once meaningful, cannot contain the new life God is bringing. New wine requires fresh skins.
Jesus is not rejecting tradition, but revealing its purpose. Practices like fasting are meant to lead people to God, not to become rigid markers of holiness. When forms are disconnected from relationship, they crack under the weight of God’s new work.
Dear friends, today's readings challenge us to examine not only what we do, but why we do it. Are our religious practices expressions of love and obedience, or are they habits that make us feel secure? Do we listen for God’s voice, or do we assume we already know what God wants?
Many people are faithful in practice yet tired in spirit. Others struggle with guilt because they cannot keep up with expectations. Today’s word offers freedom. God desires hearts that are open and responsive more than perfect performance.
The invitation today is to allow God to renew the inner life. Listen before acting. Obey before offering. Make space for joy as well as discipline. Allow Christ, the bridegroom, to redefine what faith looks like in this moment of your life.
When obedience flows from listening, sacrifice becomes love. When practices are shaped by relationship, they give life. And when we allow God to make us new from within, our faith becomes flexible, joyful, and deeply alive.
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