New Wine into Fresh Wineskins

July 5, 2008

Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Yes, days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the vintager, him who sows the seed; The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains, and all the hills shall run with it. I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, Plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. Amos 9:13-14

No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. Matthew 9:16-17

Piety

Please give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you.
Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation.
I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace To his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him.
Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land.
Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven.
The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase.
Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.
Psalm 85:7-14

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/070508.shtml

New life in abundance is promised today. No longer is the Lord threatening a famine but instead he is offering a new and plentiful harvest. The crops have been gathered so that we may eat. The grapes have been pressed into a new vintage of wine that flows throughout the land so that we may drink the cup of eternal life.

Into this picture of abundance and life, Matthew ponders the question of fasting. Jesus has established a whole new relationship between the people and the Lord. So while he does not want to disregard all of the traditional practices, he teaches that they must be used appropriately.

Jesus is the new wine. He pours himself into us and we share eternal life with him. However, he will not be held b old wineskins. We must renew us in his new commandments and through his sacrifice. When we share in these through our obedience and humility, then we will be a new wineskin, strong enough to contain the Lord who wants to dwell within us.

There is a time for observing the old practices of fasting, but Jesus is saying to wait until he departs. Fasting is not appropriate when he is with us…only when we are separated and in mourning.

Action

When do you fast? When do you voluntarily refuse food in order to cleanse your body? In fasting, we give up something so that others may share in it.

Today, food prices are skyrocketing, causing food shortages and riots in many developing countries. Even here in the United States, many people are now have trouble paying for food that costs more today. According to US News and World Report(July 8): “The world food crisis has two faces. Here in the United States, shoppers stare in disbelief at the rising price of milk, meat, and eggs. But elsewhere on the globe, anguish spills into the streets, as in Somalia last week when tens of thousands of rioters converged on the capital to protest for food.”

How can you help? Consider these ideas proposed in a May 9, 2008 article by Kent Garber in U.S. News.

Donate money. Many relief agencies are seeing budget shortfalls in the millions—if not hundreds of millions—of dollars this year. Many of the largest groups, including Oxfam America, the U.N. World Food Program, and CARE, encourage online donations. Some allow you to select specific projects or efforts.

Support food banks. U.S. food banks are seeing dramatic increases in visitors and shrinking stocks because of reduced contributions. America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest food bank network, features a local food bank locator on its website to guide donors. Some local agencies, such as Detroit's Forgot-ten Harvest, rescue perishable food from supermarkets and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste. They, too, accept monetary donations.

Waste time for a cause. If you can't afford to make donations yourself, a few mouse clicks will instruct others to donate money for you. At freerice.com, visitors can play simple vocabulary games; WFP will donate 20 grains of rice for every correct answer. Another site, thehungersite.com, requires just a click of a button.

Reduce food waste. According to estimates, Americans waste about 100 billion pounds of food annually. Though cutting out waste at home won't directly help feed the hungry elsewhere, Americans can be more conscious about their eating habits. Rather than overbuying, use the money you save to make a donation.

Reward retailers. A number of companies donate money or food to anti-hunger programs. Chicken of the Sea and Ruby Tuesday have pledged a fraction of their sales to America's Second Harvest. You can find more contributors at secondharvest.org.