Turn from evil and do good. – Psalm 37:27

Robbie was an only child born to rich parents. He was in high school when his parents suddenly died, forcing their lucrative business to fold up. It left Robbie with nothing but the roof over his head. Feeling lost, he walked out of his house and never came back. His relatives looked for him and learned that he was in bad company, robbing homes and stores.

       For months, they searched for him. Then one day, he returned — thin, bedraggled and glassy-eyed. He sat at the doorway just staring at his aunt. Robbie could hardly stand. Tears slowly filled his eyes as he mumbled the names of his parents between sobs.

       They fed him, cleaned him up and brought him to bed. He woke up after 16 hours of uninterrupted sleep. His aunts kept up their vigil while he was asleep, praying to God that Robbie may be delivered and wake up to a new life.

       Today, Robbie is graduating from college. On weekends, he helps the parish priest in his outreach program for street children, and serves in his Catholic community in many ways.

Reflection: Life may deal with us badly, but God always gives us the best deal — His everlasting love.

In times of despair and need, may You be my stronghold for I know You will deliver me.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

Paul is very sure of himself. He is right when he says that the primary judge of a person is the Lord. We make judgments about one another on a daily basis; however, we need to remember that our judgment is probably biased. There will always be people who come out against the Gospel — that is the way of a sinful world — but this should not dampen our enthusiasm or commitment to proclaim the Gospel.

1 Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 5 Commit to the Lord your way; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. (R) 27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; 28 for the Lord loves what is right, and forsakes not his faithful ones. Criminals are destroyed, and the posterity of the wicked is cut off. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (R)

We should never write off an older generation simply because the times are changing. Bob Dylan got it right when he exhorts us to accept the fact that things are no longer the way they were and we have to adjust or we will get left behind. Things are changing all the time around us. It makes life a dizzy roller coaster ride. For me, this is exciting and makes for an interesting future and many challenging situations.

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

33 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.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 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. 37 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. 38 Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

think:  The primary judge of a person is the Lord.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 56-60

NEW WINE IN NEW WINESKINS

In Jesus’ time, water, wine, oil and milk were stored in leather containers. The reason no one would put new and still fermenting wine into old wineskins is that the fermentation process produces gas, which would stretch the old skins to their bursting point. Then both the wine and the wineskins would be lost. So they always put new wine into new wineskins that would stretch without bursting.

       To further understand what Jesus is trying to teach, we must remember that the context of the parables is the religious practices of the Pharisees in contrast to those of Jesus’ disciples. The Pharisees fasted while Jesus’ disciples did not. So the parables relate to that contrast. On the one hand, Jesus was speaking about the “old garment’ or “old wineskin” of Judaism, and on the other hand, about the “new garment” or “new wine” of His teachings. Jesus anticipated the incompatibility of Judaism and Christianity, and the eventual split between them.

       But what has this to do with us today? The main point is that we must not become too comfortable with our traditions because God has marvelous ways of doing unusual things. When God moves, He usually manifests Himself in ways that are outside of our comfort zones.

       The election of Pope Francis last year surprised many. He shocked people by doing away, even on the first day of his Pontificate, with things that Vatican people were used to. His return to simplicity was “new wine” that needed “new wineskins.”

       Using “new wineskins” does not mean throwing away tradition. What is good and precious must be preserved but what is outdated has to go.

       The history of the Church is rich with examples of God’s moving power (“new wine”) and resistance by people who do not want to change. Therefore, we must be open to God’s “new wine” whenever it is poured out, even if it is difficult for us to change. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you cling to the past so that you resist accepting what is new? Could it be that you don’t trust the Holy Spirit enough?

Lord, Your Holy Spirit has moved the Church in ever new directions. Your Spirit has moved me, too. Help me not to resist the urgings of Your Spirit but be docile and follow.