Today’s Gospel:  Luke 5:33-39

REFLECTION
The verses in today’s Gospel are a gold mine, which, alas, is seldom discovered by those seeking spiritual treasure. Obviously, these parables of the Lord referred to that which He had already uttered. The question had been raised about the necessity and advisability of fasting, but the questioners had apparently lost sight of the fact that fasting, according to the law, was only commanded for the day of atonement. The dictates of the fathers, and the traditions increasing through the centuries had obscured the true meaning of the act. Originally fasting was a sign of deep penitence; unfortunately it had become a meritorious deed of which men could boast (Luke 18:11–12). Jesus had come to institute a new form of worship, completely opposed to the old ways practised by the fathers. To try and patch up the old and disappointing garments of Jewish practice by adding to them pieces of the new faith would only spoil both. Jesus had not come to repair an old system; He had come to give the world something entirely new. If decaying portions of a worn-out system were grafted or sown on the fabric of the new life, neither the faded design nor the age-old texture would be in harmony with that which had come fresh from the looms of Heaven. Therefore why should the followers of the new order emulate the slaves of the old? Fastings there would undoubtedly be, but they would be voluntary; self-imposed; begotten not by the commands of the law but by an inherent desire to emulate Christ’s example.

Within the framework of these two parables, the one garment seems to be opposed to the many bottles! This calls for investigation. The people of the East have long preserved their liquids in leather bottles made generally from the skin of a goat. These have the rare quality of preserving the water untainted. Yet, to place unfermented wine in old bottles would be stupid for the increasing pressure within the leather containers would burst the goatskins. New wine must therefore be placed within a new goatskin. The spotlight of emphasis is now upon the container - not upon the wine. The new wine represents that living and healthy spirituality which flows so abundantly through the teaching of Jesus; and the bottles, the men who are to become depositories of this principle, and to preserve it for mankind.

Jesus knew that He would need new men for the new message. Had he chosen Pharisees, the danger would ever have been present that their preconceived notions might have spoiled the entire project. Their warped minds would not have been able to preserve the sweetness of the new wine; it would have become sour; tainted; unpalatable. It was therefore necessary to store the new wine in new men, and to do this Jesus bypassed the officials in the temple and went forth to the seashore to find fishermen.

The final portion of this great utterance of Christ suggests that one of the chief virtues of His followers must be patience. Men who have drunk old and mature wine may not take kindly to a new vintage. Many of the Pharisees would soon be comparing the old and new systems and at first would reject the new message. Some men are converted in a moment of time; others are the product of long and patient labor. If the new vessels preserved the new wine, the entire world would one day be able to substantiate the testimony of Christ and rejoice in that which God had sent to his people. The text therefore contains a warning to His followers. The word “eutheos” - translated, straightway suggests the reluctance of men who had long drunk of the old wine even to try the new wine - they will say “The old is better.” Therefore it was to be expected that the protagonists of the law would refuse to yield to the claims of the new message. The disciples needed to consider this, for to be forewarned was to be forearmed.

Today’s Reading:  1 Cor 4:1-5

PRAYER
Lord, grant that we may not be narrow-minded that we fail to see the simplicity and beauty of your Good News.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.