January 19th - Reflection

Matthew 9:14-17 (NRSV)
Christ, the bridegroom, the new wine

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Reflection
Jesus brought radical news in his message. Patching up the misguided teachings of the day would not do. Jesus brought something completely new and strange to the people. God wasn't the God removed from his people. God wasn't the God that worked only through the clergy of the day. God came to the humble, the sick, the poor and became one of them.

Jesus brought the message of salvation the hard way. Jesus would be our salvation. Salvation would not come through our effort or obedience to the law. The law pointed out our own stench of sin and failure. However, Jesus pointed out God's plan to save us through his redeeming power.

Jesus brought radical news in his message. It's not about us! It's all about Jesus! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, humbly I stop to listen and learn. Teach me I pray. --- Amen