Jesus is a the great new reality for all of us. The disciples were worried with the old law and more. Jesus said to them that they were fasting and this happened when he was crucified. The beginning of all the Fridays that Christians fast.

“Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” 
”Tell me,” Saul replied.
Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?”
“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? 
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (I Samuel 15,16-22 NIV).

The persons began to ask for a king, because they wanted to be similar to the other civilizations and the Lord was saddened by this. Samuel consecrated Saul as king, God did not want to give a king to the people. Through the cause of sin, we don’t like to be commanded by anyone. No one wanted to obey. Saul was not different. God spoke that one of the functions of a king was of going to the front in war. He said then to Saul that he would not take anything from his victories in war. Rather Saul disobeyed God, bringing animals to sacrifice to Him. In this time, the only thing that would unite man and God was the sacrifice of an animal.

The Holy Mass is a sacrifice, it is not needed to kill an animal for sacrifice. The sacrifice of the New Testament is not made with more animals; it is Man himself. He that died on the cross for us. Go to mass. it is the most important thing that a human can do. Because when we do the Eucharistic Celebration it is for Jesus who saved us. For this reason, when someone misses the Holy Mass, through their own fault, one can only receive communion, if s/he confesses. The Eucharist is above all things. It is the first place.

Obedience is more valued than sacrifice. Putting anything before going to mass is disobeying God.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5:23-24 NIV)

The commandments can be reviewed in two principles: The first loving God and the second Loving your brother. No sacrifice is of any value if you are not obeying God. Loving the all powerful does not have one problem. One does not do bad to anyone, but loving your neighbor is quite difficult.

Whatever rituals, and other such thing that you do with your heart full of resentment. When the people do not pardon your brother, your heart remains far from the Lord. It can be that your heart does not follow but that you try to forgiveness, God is happy with your sacrifice. That today the Lord may give you the grace to know forgiveness.

Fr. Jose Agusto
New Song Missionary
Translated from Portuguese