Daily Readings - Fri Sep 05 2025
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
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addresses the Pharisees' concerns, emphasizing that His teachings and way of life are fresh and cannot be merged with outdated practices.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.