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 Are we willing to look within first, let God show us where we need to grow, what ‘outdated’ thoughts, biases, judgments, fears or hurts are causing us to typically say “Why do you not…” what can we do to change the way we walk with the other so that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: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 John 17:20-26 Reflection: No doubt the Chief Priests and whole Sanhedrin were excited to have a chance to get Paul condemned by Roman authority but surely » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 20:28-38 John 17:11b-19 Reflection: In our yearly liturgical calendar, this is an in-between week whereby we sit in a void between Jesus’ departure while awaiting the power and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 20:17-27 John 17:1-11 Reflection: Love, Love, Love! We’re deep in the home stretch of the Easter Season, with the celebration of Pentecost just days away. Today’s Scriptures challenge » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 19:1-8 John 16:29-33 Reflection: “’Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They answered him, ‘We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’” » Continue Reading.
The Ascension of the Lord Scripture: Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 Luke 24:46-53 Reflection: In the Eastern Church there is a story of Satan trying to regain » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 18:23-28 John 16:23b-28 Reflection: Several years ago, I was invited to give a series of presentations on Scripture in the Diocese of Arusha in Tanzania. During my stay, » Continue Reading.
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-18a or Romans 12:9-16 Luke 1:39-56 Reflection: This Feast Day marks the moment when, after the Annunciation, Mary left Nazareth and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 18:1-8 John 16:16-20 Reflection: Some years ago Frank Sinatra, Jr., sang a song with the haunting title, The Trouble with Hello is Goodbye. It is the lament of all mortals. All » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 17:15, 22 – 18:1 John 16: 12 – 15 Reflection: “For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’” Acts 17: 28 Today we read Saint » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 16:22-34 John 16:5-11 Reflection: Everyone who has accepted or is discerning a call to serve as a minister in our church today should make it his/her priority to » Continue Reading.