Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

 

Obedience is not being subservient.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Monday of 2nd Week in Ordinary Time II, January 15th, 2024
Texts: 1 Samuel 15:16-23; Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23; Mark 2:18-22 

Samuel reminds us, today, that obedience is better than sacrifice. He says, "Has the  Lord great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as obeying the voice of the  Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” Jesus Christ also affirms this in today’s gospel reading when He says keeping the rule of engagement is the best.  

Fasting during wedding feast is a default, stubbornness, and act of deviance. Samuel speaks of such acts thus: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” In the analogy of patching the old garment with unshrunk cloth Jesus disapprove rigid and dry religion of the Pharisees. He has come to redeem the religion rather than patching it.  
Obedience is an acknowledgement of God’s supremacy and Lordship over us.

Some of us are subservient, not obedient

Obedience is not being subservient. We need to know the difference between the two so as to know whether we are truly obedient to God. Some of us are subservient, not obedient. Both the obedient and the subservient are faithful to the commandments. The subservient could appear to be obedient, but it is not.

Being subservient is being under force or obligation. Life circumstances such as fear, need for favour, poverty, etc could exert such force upon us. People who do eyes service are subservient, not obedient. When we obey God because we need favour from Him, we are subservient, not obedient. In subservience, we keep the commandments on the outside but rebellious on the inside. In this case we live a double life; on the inside we fight, on the outside we cooperate. Hence, we feel burdened, caged, unfulfilled and unhappy.  

Obedience is a proof of love

Being obedient is being true and free in keeping the commandments of God. In this case we keep the commandments because it gives sense of self-fulfilment. We feel actualized by keeping the commandment and it gladdens our hearts. Obedience is a virtue that find its root in love. Hence, Jesus Christ says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). Obedience is a proof of love. We cannot obey whoever we do not love, we can only be subservient to him/her. 

Prayer 

God our Father, we are sorry for the number of times we have disobeyed You; heal us of rebellion and stubbornness and make us keep Your word. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke