LEARN ABOUT NEW THINGS
Our challenge is to ask ourselves if we are eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God's Word and plan in life.
In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus warns the disciples about the problem of the "closed mind" that refuses to learn new things. As always, Jesus uses an image familiar to His followers - new and old wineskins. What did Jesus mean by this comparison? Are we to reject the old in place of the new? Just as there is a right place and a right time for fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the new. Jesus Christ gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both old and new. He doesn't want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new work that comes from God in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like new wine skins - open and ready to receive the new rich wine of the Holy Spirit!
During Jesus' ministry, something new happens. He comes to people who have particular expectations about who their savior is going to be. When Jesus begins to teach and work among the people, many do not accept Him. He was not only breaking the Old Covenant Laws, He was also throwing a few out. Many did not realize that He was revealing a radically different way of knowing and following His heavenly Father. Our challenge is to ask ourselves if we are eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God's Word and plan in life.
In today's Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "Praise the Lord for the Lord is good" (Ps 135:3a)! As we journey on our way to spiritual progress, there are times when it seems that we are blocked by unyielding obstacles that mark the end of the journey. Perhaps it is our own enemies; we may have spiritual fatigue and lack of faith. How can we get by? How can we move on? As these insurmountable obstacles disappear, the way is cleared and our journey continues. A Mighty Hand opens the way for us again, renewing hope and bestowing courage. This brings us to new beginnings and a newness of life!
Are we ready to let our faith in Jesus change us?