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addresses the Pharisees' concerns, emphasizing that His teachings and way of life are fresh and cannot be merged with outdated practices.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