1 Sam 15:16-23 / Mark 2:18-22
If we say that rules are made to be broken, then we must also say that we are prepared to face the consequences.
Because the fact is that when something is broken, it will always remain as broken, regardless of what is done to repair it or to fix it up again.
Well, rules may be rather impersonal, but what about orders and commands? Especially when we know who is giving the order or the command.
We heard in the 1st reading that Samuel admonished king Saul for his disobedience to the voice of the Lord.
Saul tried to justify and even defended his actions by saying that he did obey the voice of the Lord, although he spared Agag the king of the Amalekites, and from the booty, he allowed the people to take the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord.
Samuel pointed out that obedience is better than sacrifice and submissiveness better than the fat of ram. And with that comes the consequence.
Since Saul had rejected the word of the Lord then he will have to face the consequence - he will be rejected as king. Because if the king can disobey God, then the scourge of that disobedience will go right down to the common people.
But obeying orders and commands is certainly not a burden if there is a relationship of love and understanding with the other person.
When obedience is based on a relationship with the other person, then we will follow the instruction of putting new wine in fresh skins. Otherwise, all will be lost and it is we who will have to suffer the consequences.