The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/011612.cfm
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
Mark 2:18-22
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
We can learn a great lesson from King Saul as told in our readings today. Saul disobeyed God by taking the spoils from the Amalekites, an act which God had forbidden. Then, to justify his actions, he tells the prophet that he intended to use the prime sheep and oxen taken from the Amalekites as a burnt offering to God. The prophet Samuel quickly points out to him that God does not want sacrifices, but rather complete obedience to His word.
The same is true for us - we are to always obey His word. Put another way, it is never right to do a wrong thing, no matter how good one's intentions. Or, we can say it is always right to do the right thing, regardless of any outcomes we may face. This is the wish of our God: to obey His word which is always perfectly right in any circumstance.
::: Don Claunch, SFO | email: dlclaunch(at)bresnan(dot)net