People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Jesus’ gospel message is new. It cannot be contained by the laws of Old Testament. It demands a new way of thinking and living. Jesus tells us that we must make ourselves into wineskins in order to preserve ourselves. His love, mercy, and grace demand it. He will not let himself be contained in the legalistic code of the Law. Instead he writes his commandments in his own flesh and blood and calls upon us to make ourselves into an acceptable sacrifice to God and for our fellow children of God.
Do we see the commandments of Christ as legal obligations or as spiritual fulfillment? How do we receive and preserve the word of God? How do we receive and preserve the Body and Blood of Christ?
O Lord, make us into fresh wineskins so that we might preserve your gospel and be preserved by it.
Amen.
Showing posts with label Preserve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preserve. Show all posts
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Tenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
We are called to be the salt of the earth and flavor the world with the God's Love. Salt not only enhances the taste of foods, but also preserves them. Just like salt, we are asked to enhance the lives of others through love and preserve them from sin. If we forget to manifest the essence of love in our thoughts, words, and works, then they become good for nothing. We can think, say, and do all the right things, but if these things do not come from a place of love, then God throws them out and tramples them under His foot. They hold no meaning for Him, just as they hold no real meaning for us besides our selfishness. So let us make sure that our thoughts, words, and works have God as their source, center, and summit. In this way we will retain the image of God within us and it will flavor all the things we do.
How do we make sure our thoughts, words, and works have our love of God and neighbor as their origin? How do we enhance and preserve the lives of others? When we take action is it out of love or selfishness?
O Lord, we are the salt of the earth. Let us not lose our taste.
Amen.
We are called to be the salt of the earth and flavor the world with the God's Love. Salt not only enhances the taste of foods, but also preserves them. Just like salt, we are asked to enhance the lives of others through love and preserve them from sin. If we forget to manifest the essence of love in our thoughts, words, and works, then they become good for nothing. We can think, say, and do all the right things, but if these things do not come from a place of love, then God throws them out and tramples them under His foot. They hold no meaning for Him, just as they hold no real meaning for us besides our selfishness. So let us make sure that our thoughts, words, and works have God as their source, center, and summit. In this way we will retain the image of God within us and it will flavor all the things we do.
How do we make sure our thoughts, words, and works have our love of God and neighbor as their origin? How do we enhance and preserve the lives of others? When we take action is it out of love or selfishness?
O Lord, we are the salt of the earth. Let us not lose our taste.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)