Daily Readings - Fri Sep 06 2019
Colossians
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.17He 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Luke
33They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."34Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?35But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."36He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.37And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.38No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.39And no one after drinking old wine wants 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.