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.’”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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.’”
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This is one of those readings that is very weird indeed. Sometimes we might say to ourselves “Jesus, why cant you speak clearly?” Parables are designed to tell stories in a way that the people can understand them. This parable is no different, and while it seems cryptic to us, it would have made perfect sense to the jews of that time. So what is the point of this reading and how can we understand it today? It is about the law and God’s covenant.
St. Cyril of Alexandria described it this way. “Those who live according to the law cannot receive the institutions of Christ.” What this means is that the pharasees are the old wineskins, and the law of moses is the old wine. The disciples of Jesus are the new wineskins and the “way” (or law) of Jesus is the new wine. Those under the old law say it is good, and they reject new law of Jesus. Further if you try to put the new law of Jesus, into the “skins” those pharasees, it will probably break them.
So this means that before you can accept the new law from Jesus, our “skins” must be transformed by the holy spirit, and made new. This is what we call baptism. Baptism is an act that not only makes your old skins new, but it prepares them to be able to receive the gifts and graces of the holy spirit. Baptism is the equivalent of a line in the sand, you are saying that before this point you were different, but now you are going to be transfored into something completely new. You are basically saying that you now want the gifts and graces of the Lord to flow into you, and ultimately be transformed by them.
For those of you that were baptised as young children, you will at some point in your life, have to make this same decision for yourself. That might be at confirmation or a re-version at some point later in your life, But we all have to confront this decision, and open ourselves up the the transformation that Jesus wants to work in our lives. Have you made that decision? Have you prepared your soul for the indwelling of Jesus, if not, why not? Make today that day and prepare for your soul to be completely changed.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord today transform me with your spirit in to something new and help me to make a place in my heart worthy of your indwelling. Amen.