February 19, 2024
February 19, 2024
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray.
Read: Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding attendants cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. Similarly, no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins, but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Be Still: The Pharisees and John’s disciples were questioning why Jesus and His disciples were not fasting. His response, “how can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” This response tells us that Jesus’ presence is meant to bring a time of joy and celebration, not one of mourning or fasting. Jesus then uses the analogy of sewing a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. The new piece will pull away from the old making the tear worse. This is also why you do not pour new wine into old wineskins, because the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskin will be a loss.
Through the Parables, Jesus is helping us to understand that his mission and message is of the Kingdom of God in the here and now. His message is not just an extension of the old, those things we view in the rearview mirror, but something completely new. Because the newness of his message cannot be contained in the old religious systems, just like new wine cannot be preserved in old wineskins.
Pause: The season in Lent offers followers of Christ the opportunity to embrace the newness of life by shedding off the old. We are not just patchwork pieces of our old life quilted together because we have been made new in Christ. This is a beautiful change. Be open to change and allow yourself to let go of old habits or beliefs that lead you astray or down the wrong path. Make decisions that are reflective of your faith as you seek to grow spiritually on the journey. Applying these teachings to your life is a journey, not a destination. It is all about progress, not perfection. Enjoy!
Prayer: Holy One, thank you for making us new creations in you. Help us to fully embrace the new life you have given us and to live it out each day. Amen.
Pastor Kellie