King Saul’s Failure to Obey God – Jan 19 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 19, 2026, explaining that God seeks our obedience and true selves in prayer, not external sacrifices, using Saul's story and Mary's role to illustrate authentic surrender to God.

In his homily, Father teaches that real sacrifice means offering our whole selves to God through obedience, not just impressive gifts like Saul tried with sheep and oxen. He stresses honest prayer, where we share our messy lives instead of perfect words from books. Like Saul, who was rejected for not surrendering, we must trust God to transform us from our low places. Father connects this to Our Lady, who helps us offer our imperfect gifts to God, making true devotion possible.

1 Samuel 15 - Saul's disobedience with sacrifices - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/15
Psalm 113:7-8 - God lifts from dung heap - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/113?7
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Obedience in spiritual life - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c3a1.htm#143
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Prayer as self-offering - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1.htm#2559
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Mary's role in offerings - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm#II

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 2nd Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011926.cfm
1st: 1sa 15:16-23
Resp: psa 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
Gsp: mar 2:18-22

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1571

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s-cOUTV-Kqg