New Wine In Old Wineskins

September 03, 2021, Friday
MEMORIAL OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 435

Reading I
Col 1:15-20

Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
    the visible and the invisible,
    whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
    all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
    and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the Body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
    that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
    and through him to reconcile all things for him,
    making peace by the Blood of his cross
    through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Responsorial Psalm
100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R.    (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful song.

R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Know that the LORD is God;
    he made us, his we are;
    his people, the flock he tends.

R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.

R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

For he is good,
    the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
    and his faithfulness, to all generations.

R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Alleluia
Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.’”

REFLECTION:

The Gospel today speaks to us about doing the right thing at the right time. People can fast for various reasons, for example weight loss or being addicted to chocolate or other luxuries. Fasting for spiritual reasons is well recognized as a means of growing in awareness of our weaknesses and of helping us to overcome them, so that we are freer in our lives.

Sometimes we try to ‘patch up’ our lives with half efforts when a deeper change is really required. Prayer is wonderful for letting God communicate with you regarding change in your life when it is required. God can do more in us than we can ask or imagine – let Him direct you – listen to Him – He can be trusted.

PRAYER:

Lord, our Church is sorely in need of new wine skins. Grant me an elasticity of heart and mind, so that I can be ever open to the freshness and power of your word. Today, as I ponder what you say to me, may I cry out with joy to you and serve you with gladness.