Reading 1
1 Cor 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Gospel
Lk 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink."
Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days."
And he also told them a parable.
"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, 'The old is good.'"
Meditation: Luke 5:33-39
“No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” (Luke 5:39)
Many of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time loved the traditions of their fathers. The thought of something new and different disturbed them. “Why don’t you do the same things that we do—the same things we have always done?” they challenged.
On the one hand, nothing was wrong with the Pharisees’ observance of their faith. They fasted, tithed, and prayed. They knew the Scriptures. They faithfully observed the Sabbath and holy days. They avoided anything or anyone considered unclean. They were good and faithful Jews. What could possibly be wrong with that?
Objectively, nothing at all. But Jesus had come preaching a new message, and these Pharisees had a hard time embracing it. He had come with a message of fulfillment: The time had arrived! The kingdom of God is among you! The long-awaited bridegroom is here! But some in Judaism had become so accustomed to waiting, so accustomed to “good enough,” that they had a hard time accepting the new, the exciting, the life-changing that Jesus had come to announce.
What about you? Don’t settle for “good enough”! Open yourself to the possibility that Jesus can make all things new for you! For instance, it may seem good enough to stoically accept an illness, but Jesus may want to heal you. It may seem good enough that we avoid acts of murder and adultery, but the Holy Spirit has the power to purify your inner life so that you are free from anger and lust. It may seem good enough to sit quietly at Mass, but all of heaven is waiting for you to join in the celebration!
Jesus makes all things new! So seek out his new life! Don’t limit your Christian life to one of simply trying to be good and avoiding sin. God has so much he wants to give you. He has so much he wants you to accomplish in his name. Go ahead and open the door wide. Ask the Holy Spirit for a glass of “new wine.” You may be surprised at how good it tastes!
“Jesus, I believe you make all things new. Help me to step into that new life today. Let me taste the ‘new wine’ of your Holy Spirit so that I can take hold of your gifts and use them for your kingdom today.”
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