Believers ask God's Holy Spirit Renewal of the Mind.

To reshape their thinking and desires, to align with His perfect will,

moving from worldly patterns to divine purpose through ongoing surrender.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 15:16-23

Samuel then told Saul,

"Enough! Let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night." Saul replied, "Please tell me."

So Samuel went on and said, "Though you had no confidence in yourself,

you became chief of the tribes of Israel, for Yahweh wanted to anoint you king over Israel.

Then he sent you with this command, 'Go. Completely crush the Amalekite offenders,

engaging them in battle until they are destroyed.'

 

Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh but instead swooped down on the spoil,

doing what was evil in his sight?" To this, Saul replied, "I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh

and have carried out the mission for which he sent me.

I have captured Agag, king of Amalek and completely destroyed the Amalekites.

 

If my men spared the best sheep and oxen from among those to be destroyed,

it was in order to sacrifice them to Yahweh, your God, in Gilgal." 

Samuel then said, "Does Yahweh take as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to his command?

Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission better than the fat of rams. Rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and stubbornness like holding onto idols. Since you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he too has rejected you as king."

 

Ps 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Mark 2:18-22

One day, when the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting, some people asked Jesus,

"Why is it, that both the Pharisees and the disciples of John fast, but yours do not?"

Jesus answered, "How can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the day will come,

when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 

"No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat, because the new patch will shrink and tear away from the old cloth,

making a worse tear. And no one puts new wine into old wine skins,

for the wine would burst the skins, and then both the wine and the skins would be lost. But new wine, new skins!"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

We need to renew our heart and mind.

Adapting to the constant changes around us requires a new skill set and a renewed perspective.

Our attitudes and responses depend on how we see and understand the world. In our mission work,

we encounter communities where we offer livelihood programs and opportunities to assist them.

However, these interventions are often unsustainable without the necessary training to help shift their mentality and mindset.

This applies to us as well, those desiring change and transformation in life.

We cannot endure the challenges of altering unhealthy habits and attitudes without a renewed heart and mind.

Let us ask God's Spirit to help us attain transformed minds and hearts that continually adapt to His holy will.