“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...” – 1 Samuel 15:22

When I was young, I was not the most obedient person in the world. I must have been a disappointment to the Lord, my parents, and other people.

       Now that I am in my 50s, I regret some of the things I had done. And I realize that a lot of my mistakes could have been avoided if I loved others more than myself.

       It was St. Ignatius who said, “It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”

       I’m still not perfect, but now I try my best.

       To do the right thing especially in following what I believe God wants me to do... because I love God.

    To keep our home happy and healthy even if it means making sacrifices... because I love my husband.

       To fall in line at train and bus terminals even if I feel like I’m wasting my time but I know it’s the right thing to do... because I love my country.

   In the end, true obedience stems from love. Marisa Aguas (jojangaguas@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Do you find it hard to do the right thing because it means making a sacrifice? Close your eyes and pray the prayer of generosity.

Dear Lord, teach me to be generous. To give and not to count the cost, save that of knowing that I do Your will.

St. Sebastian, martyr, pray for us.

The life of Saul is, at heart, a lesson in obedience. Even though Saul was not really God’s choice for the King of Israel, everything would have been OK if he had been obedient. But Saul did not follow instructions well. Whatever may be our judgment today on the nature of God’s command to Saul, his disobedience was actually rebellion against God’s will and we will see the ultimate result of this later: death. For Samuel, as for God, there are no excuses for disobedience to God’s command.

16 Samuel said to Saul: “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul replied, “Speak!” 17Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem, are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king of Israel 18 and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction. Fight against them until you have exterminated them. 19 Why then have you  disobeyed the Lord? You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the Lord.” 20 Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the Lord and fulfill the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban. 21 But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen, the best of what had been banned, to sacrifice to the Lord their God in Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel said: “Does the Lord so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. 23 For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”

8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 21 When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (R)        

This story highlights the difference between the Old and New Covenants — the Old being based on the Law and Israel’s uncompromising obedience to it, and the New being built on love and a compassionate and empathetic understanding of how we struggle to follow the Law. It seems people at times want to return to the former. This is a mistake as it leaves little room for compassion and is impossible anyway. God understands our struggles. This is not to excuse our sinfulness but to give us hope as we struggle to overcome it.

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21 No one sews a piece of un-shrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

think:  God understands our struggles. This is not to excuse our sinfulness but to give us hope as we struggle to overcome it.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 16-18

Fasting was quite important among Catholics until several decades ago. As kids, we did not like the time of Lent very much and other days throughout the year when adults had to fast and we kids had to abstain from sweets. Then there was the Eucharistic fast from midnight until the moment of receiving Holy Communion. I remember one day when I had to serve at the 6.30 a.m. Mass. At home, I had found a candy, took it in my mouth and then remembered the Mass. I quickly took it out of my mouth. When I asked the priest later whether I still could receive Holy Communion, he said no. It was a bit too strict, but now that only the one-hour Eucharistic fast remains, many Catholics still do not observe it at all. In many offices, Masses are celebrated during the noon break  and often, the priest has to wait until 12:15, or even later, because employees eat their lunch first, then come to Mass and receive Communion.

       In today’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t seem to be very keen when it comes to fasting. But this is no excuse. He defends His disciples who are with Him. But He points out that after He’s gone, they would fast. Jesus knows that “the flesh is weak” and that it needs some exercise to curb its desires.

       Feasting makes us lazy; fasting makes us strong. Feasting fills the stomach; fasting fills the soul. Feasting weakens our will and self-control; fasting strengthens our will and helps us to be in control when temptations come our way. Feasting can lead to self-indulgence; fasting gives inner strength and spiritual growth. But fasting falls in the category of sacrifice, a word many of us have erased from our vocabulary and practice.

       Today, the Church honors Sts. Fabian and Sebastian, two martyrs of the Early Church. Fabian was the first layman to be elected pope. Sebastian was a Roman soldier. Both saints were ready to lose their lives than their faith. We probably will not be killed for Christ, but what about dying a bit for Him and for the sake of our spiritual growth by reducing feasting and embracing more the sacrifice of fasting? Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you in control of your appetite or are you its slave? How can you begin a healthy “fasting” for the sake of the Kingdom and for your spiritual growth?

Lord, You pricked my conscience. I realize that my spiritual growth is slowed down by self-indulgence. Thank You for reminding me of the importance of fasting and sacrifice.