Daily Scripture, January 20, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
“…new wine is for fresh skins…”
Why do your followers not…doesn’t that sound familiar? A typically human response – we want everyone to do as we do, to think as we think, we want life to follow along “same old, same old”. And when they don’t or life changes, we point fingers, we accuse, we villainize or ostracize – anything to not have to face the truth! But in truth, can life stay the same and never change? Would that even be healthy? What would life be like, really, if we all did everything alike and never challenged or thought outside the box? BORING!
Jesus’ response is a wake-up call – pay attention! When the bridegroom is with you – CELEBRATE. Jesus came to make things new, not just to ‘patch up’ or revert back – why would he, it never works – the cloth will just tear again – and the ‘rip’ will actually be bigger and more tattered. New wine needs new skins – new containers – it needs the elasticity and flexibility to contain the freshness and flavor of the new wine.
Are we open to preparing for something new? Are we open to the discovery; are we open to living into new skins? Are we willing to look within first, let God show us where we need to grow, what ‘outdated’ thoughts, biases, judgments, fears or hurts are causing us to typically say “Why do you not…” what can we do to change the way we walk with the other so that we can be open to the new, to live within the both/and rather than the right/wrong? Do we recognize the bridegroom in our midst and dare to celebrate rather than flagellate? Who is our Jesus? And what is he asking of us – individually and collectively?
Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Scripture: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 Luke 18:1-8 Reflection: The persistent widow…the lowliest of the lowly…certainly one with no voice, no visibility, and no status. And yet, with persistence, with determination, with » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Wisdom 6:1-11 Luke 17:11-19 Reflection: A few weeks ago, while driving down the freeway through California farmland, I spotted some fruit pickers in fields along our way. It sure » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Wisdom 2:23-3:9 Luke 17:7-10 Reflection: Our meditation focuses on the stark message that is pointed out by Jesus today, “we are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38 Reflection: One core tenet of our Catholic faith is belief in an afterlife. Yet as we can see in today’s » Continue Reading.
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17 John 2:13-22 Reflection: St. John Lateran, Mother of all Churches We have celebrated our feasts » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Romans 15:14-21 Luke 16:1-8 Reflection: How far does the contemporary Christian go to follow Jesus? Can the lures of the world entice you without compromising your beliefs? How much » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Romans 14:7-12 Luke 15:1-10 Reflection: My older sister gave me some good advice. She had just gotten married and I was in the Passionists’ High School minor seminary. We » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Romans 13:8-10 Luke 14:25-33 Reflection: This reading from St. Luke’s Gospel is one of the most challenging of the New Testament. Does Christ really expect his followers to surrender » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Romans 12:5-16b Luke 14:15-24 Reflection: Brothers and sisters: We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. –Romans 12:5 ‘Go out quickly into the » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Romans 11:29-36 Luke 14:12-14 Reflection: Welcoming One and All As we move towards our holiday celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas, today’s Gospel selection from St. Luke offers a different » Continue Reading.