Daily Readings - Fri Sep 06 2019
Colossians
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Luke
33And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink."34And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?35The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."36He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"
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.