THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday in the Second Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 15:16-23

Ps 50

Mark 2:18-22

Memorial of St Anthony Abbot

Obedience or Sacrifice

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St Anthony Abbot. He was born in Egypt and after the death of his parents, he decided to follow the words of the gospel by giving his belongings to the poor and then going into solitude. He lived a life of poverty and penance, praying and meditating on the words of God. Some disciples gathered around him for his wisdom, moderation, and holiness. He supported those in persecution and lived for over a hundred years. He is the founder of monasticism.

Our first reading deals with God’s rejection of Saul as king of Israel. What occasioned this might help our reflection. The Amalekites were great enemies of the people of Israel, at the time of Saul. To settle the problem once and for all and to give Israel peace, God commanded Saul to destroy the enemies, without saving anything—humans or animals. Saul and his army were victorious in battle, but Saul thought differently from what God had commanded. He took the Amalek king prisoner, maybe to teach him a good lesson. He also brought back home, the best of their flock and when he was questioned about this, he claimed he did so, to sacrifice the best of the spoil to God. God was not pleased, about this act of disobedience and thereby rejected Saul as king of his people. “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” In as much as there is nothing wrong, with sacrificing to God, one must be careful not to offer God, what will displease him.

"What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”(Is 1:11) “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”(Hosea 6:6) “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.”(Ps 51:16)

“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”(Prov. 15:8)

The commandment of God says, “Thou shall not steal.” But it is not strange today, to find people, who have defrauded others, or their nation, sometimes those who are corrupt in government, spending money building places of worship, or supporting philanthropic projects. Does that save them from the punishment which is due to their actions? Is it possible to bribe God from what has been stolen from his people? Is God pleased with the sacrifices from the proceeds of disobedience?

We all need to change our ways. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Let us pray: Lord, help us to truly understand that the love of neighbor is essential if we truly want to be pleasing to you. Help us to be mindful of the rights of others so as not to offend you, who are infinitely good. Amen. 

+Remain blessed