The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 19, 2004
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23
Mark 2:18-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.
(1 Samuel 15:22)

In today's First Reading we hear these words spoken by Samuel to Saul, the ruler of all Israel. Saul was not much different than a lot of people, even those alive today. He thought he could pull one over on God, and then when he realized he'd been caught he tried to make it all look like he was making some great sacrifice to God. All he was trying to do was hide from God. He thought he could hide his sin both at the time he committed it and again at the time God confronted him with it through Samuel. All God wanted was obedience from Saul.

In fact, that is all God has wanted since the beginning of time. He wanted it of Adam and Eve. He wanted it of all of Israel. He wanted it of Saul and He wanted it of Job. He wanted it of the apostles and saints, and He wants it of you and me.

Sadly, through history, men and women haven't been able to figure it out. Disobedience got Adam and Eve thrown out of Eden and it cost Saul his kingship. It cost Ananias and Saphira their lives. It could cost us eternity. But we have another chance through the blood of Christ. We may have been disobedient in the past, but if we accept the forgiveness of God purchased for us by Jesus, and strive everyday to do better, we may have eternity in paradise.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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posted by joachim at 4:51 AM