REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jesus’ coming brought joy to the world. This is what we sing at Christmas. Of course, his coming also implies that we make ourselves ready and fit for the graces that he brings—by penance, and fasting perhaps. But joy and celebration should be the prevailing mood, not sadness or sorrow. John the Baptist led the people in the preparation for Jesus’ coming by inviting them to repent and believe the Good News. But then Jesus came and revealed the power of God with great signs and consoling powerful words. So the natural response to all this is to be joyful and grateful to God, to celebrate his goodness. Those, however, who decided to close their hearts to Jesus could not rejoice over the wonderful things he performed. It is important then to discern the time we are in; otherwise, we become out of touch with reality, irrelevant. The Church, in fact, teaches us to always observe the signs of the times so we can respond accordingly. Do you sometimes live imprisoned in your own world, out of touch with reality? Wake up and be open to what God is saying to you... today.
GOSPEL • LUKE 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’
” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.