Daily Readings - Fri Sep 06 2019
Colossians
15He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature16For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him17And he is before all, and in him all things continue18And he is the head of his body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that in all things he may hold primacy19For the Father is well-pleased that all fullness reside in him20and that, through him, all things be reconciled to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, for the things that are on earth, as well as the things that are in heaven
Luke
33But they said to him, "Why do the disciples of John fast frequently, and make supplications, and those of the Pharisees act similarly, while yours eat and drink?34And he said to them: "How can you cause the sons of the groom to fast, while the groom is still with them35But the days will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast, in those days.36Then he also made a comparison for them: "For no one sews a patch from a new garment onto an old garment. Otherwise, he both disrupts the new one, and the patch from the new one does not join together with the old one37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine ruptures the wineskins, and it will be poured out, and the wineskins will be lost38Instead, the new wine is put into new wineskins, and both are preserved39And no one who is drinking the old, soon wishes for the new. For he says, ‘The old is better.’
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on the nature of Christ and the transformation He brings. The first reading from Colossians presents Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, through whom all things were created and reconciled. This passage emphasizes Christ’s supremacy and His role as the head of the Church, highlighting His mission of bringing peace through His sacrifice. The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary perspective, as Jesus responds to inquiries about fasting by His disciples. He uses parables of patching garments and wineskins to illustrate the incompatibility of old and new, suggesting that His teachings cannot be confined by traditional practices.
The context of these readings is significant. Colossians was written to a church grappling with various theological challenges, reaffirming Christ’s central role in creation and redemption. Luke’s passage captures a moment during Jesus’s ministry when He addresses criticism about His disciples’ practices, emphasizing the newness and radical nature of His message. Both readings underscore the theme of newness that Christ introduces, challenging the status quo and inviting a deeper understanding of His transformative power.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded that embracing the newness Christ offers is essential for spiritual growth. Just as old garments and wineskins cannot accommodate new patches or wine without damage, our lives must be open to change and renewal. This means letting go of outdated ways of thinking and being receptive to the fresh perspectives and practices that Christ’s teachings bring. The moral lesson here is one of trust and openness—trusting in God’s plan and being willing to embrace transformation, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. By doing so, we allow Christ to work within us, leading us toward a life of greater fulfillment and deeper connection with Him.