Today’s readings invite us to reflect on obedience to God. The first reading highlights the struggle between human will and divine command. Saul’s refusal to carry out God’s instruction demonstrates how pride and selective obedience can fracture the covenant relationship. His actions remind us that partial obedience is, in truth, disobedience, and that God desires a heart that is wholly surrendered. The prophet Samuel emphasizes this truth by declaring that God values faithfulness and trust far more than ritual sacrifices or outward displays of devotion. In the Gospel, Jesus uses vivid images: the patching of old cloth and the pouring of new wine into old wineskins; to show that his message cannot simply be added onto old ways of thinking. It requires a radical openness to transformation, a willingness to embrace change, and a rejection of spiritual rigidity. The call of Christ is not about clinging to what is comfortable, but about allowing the Holy Spirit to renew us continually.

PRAYER: Abba Father, help us to serve you with sincere hearts. Amen.