4th JULY. SATURDAY OF WEEK 13

1.Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29

2. Matthew 9:14-17

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

In the gospel reading today we hear that the new is introduced with “ full authority” over “ heaven and earth.” Jesus in this context is giving a strong invitation that his work extended beyond Israel to something new. At the time of Jesus there was a striking difference between the disciples of Jesus and those of John the Baptist. We cannot sew shrunken clothe- or animal skins that have not been tanned- onto old leather cloaks; in fact the new will proceed to shrink, pull away and the rip will only get worse. Also when animal skins are used to hold fermenting wine, new skins will stretch, simply because they are still elastic, while old skin will burst open and wine will be lost simply because they have reached beyond elastic limit. These examples being taken from Jewish culture should not be taken for granted simply because they point to the dramatic discontinuity with the past, in Jesus’ preaching and outlook. There is to be rejoicing, an entirely new cloak rather than an old one with patches, new wine skins for the new wine.

In our everyday lives, we have experienced and seen that change provokes many types of reactions. The invitation from the readings to us all is that we should try to remain at peace willing to adapt to whatever new circumstances God and history have put us in. We are invited to create a room for change and growth. Formalities have made some of us not to make a step ahead in our social and spiritual growth. Many times you will hear individuals saying “let things remain the way they are, because they have been done like that.” In this perspective you can see that there is no room for growth and improvement. We should accept the new change with a spirit of appreciation and gratitude. The ways of divine providence are surely leading towards a noble, final goal, however, they pass through the vagaries of human existence, welcome and unwelcome. We must always strive to become worthy disciples of Jesus, letting him pour his new wine into wine skins, means let him change our old ways of doing things, our old ways of thinking, our old ways of expressing his love into the new way of his very love.

In the gospel, Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom and to his disciples as the bride. In this context Jesus suggests that his public ministry is like a wedding celebration, a time of rejoicing during which fasting is not appropriate. In keeping with that wedding image, Jesus speaks of the new wine of him public ministry, new wine that keeps on calling for new wine skins. Dear brothers and sisters we are always called for a spiritual renewal that is worthy of the presence of the bridegroom. Our renewal should be capable of containing, in some way the new wine of the kingdom of God.