Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
While reflecting on today’s Scripture, I am struck by the contrast between the relationship God has with humanity before Jesus and after Jesus. I started wondering what it must have been like to live in Old Testament times before the coming of Christ. How can we possibly appreciate how great a blessing it is to live now—in the Light of Christ.
In the first reading from the book of 1 Samuel, God has rejected Saul as king because he has not done what the Lord has asked of him. He destroyed the Amalekites as God commanded, but took the sheep and oxen despite being told to destroy them as well. Saul tries to explain away doing what he wanted by telling Samuel he intended to sacrifice the animals as an offering to God. Saul was “sort of” following God’s will. In the end, Samuel makes it clear that God is more interested Saul’s complete obedience and commitment than his rationalizations and burnt offerings; Saul is rejected by God
In the Gospel passage, Jesus is asked why he and his disciples do not fast as the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees do. Adherence to the rules of fasting were not taken lightly in the time of Jesus. In fact, like many of the prescribed behaviors, the true purpose of fasting could be less important than prescribed fast itself. Outward compliance was made all important. I suspect that the strict adherence to the particulars of behaviors such as fasting could actually choke the spiritual life right out of a person who tried to comply. Jesus’ reply to the question regarding his not adhering to fasting was probably as puzzling as it was shocking. “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.” (Mk 2:19) Jesus is revealing something completely new—and contrary—to the way many generations of Jews had lived. In the remaining verses, Jesus explains that the “new” includes not only the externals like fasting but the interior life as well: “…no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into new wineskins.” (Mk 2:22)
With Jesus everything is made new. With Jesus comes the promise of intimacy with God. And in the company of intimacy comes freedom and joy. Today, I would like to be ready when God extends an invitation to me to become “new” in whatever way he sees fit.
"Holy Father,
Thank you for the gift of Jesus
and for the opportunity to become new.
Keep me aware that I need only be willing
to humbly receive your transforming grace
to change me and make me new.
With the intercession of Mary
In Jesus’ name.
Amen"
--Gail Lyman