September 4, 2009
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
By Melanie Rigney
For in (Christ) all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. (Colossians 1:19-20)
Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. (Psalms 100:2b)
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.'” (Luke 5:36-39)
Piety
Lord, help me to grow in Your love and embrace the new wine with which You fill me. Let me put aside the old wineskin.
Study
How do you make a new wineskin?
eHow.com, the ultimate how-to Web site, provides thirteen steps. You’ll need cardboard, goatskin, leather, pitch, and a brush.
If you’re a visual learner, check out Videojug.com.
We can make new wineskins in intangible ways too.
Through piety, we strengthen our prayer life, making time for God and being present to the moments we are closest to Christ. And we are changed.
Through study, we better understand the written Word and the Church’s dogma and doctrine. And we are changed.
Through action, we present the face of the living Christ to our family and friends, our colleagues and neighbors, our enemies and the unnoticed, underserved people of our world. And we are changed.
And with those new wineskins built over and over again throughout our lives with the Maker’s loving hands, we open ourselves to richer, more robust wine. Our joy in the presence of the Lord, in whatever form He presents himself, increases. And we are changed.
Action
If you’re a member of the Arlington, Virginia, Cursillo movement, you can help craft new wineskins. Visit www.arlingtoncursillo.org and click on the link under “How Can We Better Serve You?” to help the Communications Committee understand what we can do to help your Fourth Day.
