Reflection
…presumption is the crime of idolatry.
-1 Samuel 15:23
In today’s first reading, we read the account of King Saul losing favor with the Lord. Having just come off a great victory, Saul is shocked by the prophet Samuel who informs him that he has been rejected as king because he has been disobedient to God’s commands. Saul tries to argue that he had fulfilled MOST of what he was commanded, but his excuses are to no avail.
How often do we also fall into this trap? We know what God’s laws are, but we convince ourselves that just a little compromise isn’t a big deal. We rationalize our disobedience with thoughts like, “Christianity is too hard.” and “My circumstances are unique.” Rather than trusting that God’s grace is sufficient, we presumptuously follow our own way. In doing so, we make idols of ourselves and damage our relationship with our Heavenly Father, whose commands are always for our good.
Let us heed Christ’s words in today’s Gospel and put new wine in new wineskins.
Let us put the new wine of complete obedience to God in the new wineskin of radical trust in Him.
