Daily Readings - Fri Sep 05 2025
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
Dear friends,
Today, we reflect on the readings from Colossians and Luke, which invite us to embrace the newness that Jesus brings into our lives. In Colossians, we hear a hymn that praises Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the head of the Church. This passage emphasizes Christ's role in creation and redemption, highlighting that through Him, all things are reconciled. In Luke, Jesus responds to criticism about His disciples' practices by using parables: the groom, the patch, and the wineskins. He illustrates that His new message cannot be confined by old traditions.
The context of Colossians is a celebration of Christ's supremacy, affirming His divinity and role in uniting all things. In Luke, Jesus addresses the Pharisees' concerns, emphasizing that His teachings and way of life are fresh and cannot be merged with outdated practices. Both readings converge on the theme of newness—Christ brings a new way of being, thinking, and living that transcends the old.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to embrace change and renewal. Just as Jesus' message required new wineskins, we must be open to letting go of old habits and mindsets that hinder our spiritual growth. The moral lesson here is trust in God's plan and openness to the new things He is doing. Let us trust in His wisdom and be receptive to the renewal He offers, allowing His newness to transform our lives.