Breaking the Word

2^nd Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 15^th January 2024 – 1 Sam 15,16-23; Mark 2,18-22

Obdience better than Sacrifice

The first reading gives us an example of the disobedience of King Saul and subsequently being rejected by Yahweh as king. In the fight against Amalekites, enemies of Israel, Saul had been told by God to ban all which was taken after a victory, that is, destroy everything completely (Deut 20,16-18). Although Saul had carried out his mandate against Amalekites, he displeased God because he and his men had taken some of the animals for themselves.  When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to justify his behaviour by claiming that the best of the sheep and oxen seized by his men would be sacrificed to God. Saul thought that the sacrifice would be better than totally destroying everything. Samuel chastises Saul, not for making a sacrifice, but for disobedience, not doing what God had explicitly told Saul to do (1 Sam 15,1-3).  Samuel enunciates Saul that obedience to the Lord and appropriate behaviour are better than animal sacrifice (Is 1,11-17; Hos 6,6; Amos 5,21-27; Mic 6,6-8). Sin is rebellion and presumption is idolatry. Saul presumes that he knows what God wants. He thinks he knows better than God, who had told him to act according to the divine plan. Because of his actions, Saul will lose the kingship. After hearing this, Saul finally acknowledges that he has sinned.

1^st Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 13^th January 2024 – 1 Sam 9,1-4.17-19; 10,1; Mark 2,13-17

Re/Directed to God’s Destiny

The first reading relates the account of how Saul is designated by God and anointed by Samuel as the first King of Israel. Here the monarchy is seen as something willed by God, and Saul is clearly God’s choice as the first king. He is presented as having qualities suitable for his future role as king and political leader: young, handsome and a commanding figure, above average in height. The hand of God is now seen as events unfold. The donkeys of Saul’s Father, Kish, had wandered off somewhere and Saul and his servants went in search of them to bring back. It is perhaps symbolic that Saul is presented as a handler of donkeys, which tended to stray far from home. He is, after all, going to be the king of rebellious people. He was a valiant and successful warrior and was even a prophet (1 Sam 10-11). The accidental encounter between Saul and Samuel is presented as something clearly planned by God. When they first meet, Saul does not recognize the prophet. Samuel, for his part, has already been told by God that this Benjaminite has been specially chosen to lead God’s people and save them from the hands of the Philistines. Through uncertain and unexpected events and situations, God continues to communicate something to his chosen ones. He manifests and manipulates his design through every person we meet and, in every experience, we may have. We are directed or redirected for God’s destiny.