Of Letting Go

Th WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090216.cfm) reminds me that I should let go of the old to receive something new. 

Change was very powerful in the last presidential elections. While usually people resist change, it was not the case. In fact, the people wanted change. They felt that the current, they status quo is not working anymore, and they wanted change. They wanted a different style. A different leadership. They wanted to let go of the old so make way for new things. 

We can only experience the new if we give up the old. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that new wine should be put in new wineskins. New wine should not be put in old wineskins, because both will be ruined. New for new, old for old. In the same way, we cannot enjoy the new life, and blessings and great things God has for us if we hang on to old things – old habits, old sins, old way of living against his will.  We need to give up and let go of the old, bad things in life to enjoy the new ones.

Letting go is not easy. In as much as wine gets better with age, old things are hard to give up. Status quo. Same routine. Same sins. Same lifestyle. We have become accustomed to the old things, to the comfortable things, that we do not always readily give them up. However, unless we learn to give them up and accept changes, unless we become willing to let go of the old, comfortable things in life, we cannot enjoy the greater things, the new things, God wants to give us. 

People wanted change, but one man cannot do it alone. All should work together to improve society. All should do their part. All should carry their weight. God will not force us to change, to let go of our old selves to make way for the new. However, unless we do it ourselves, he cannot give us what he wants to. May we be inspired, challenged, and move to change and let go of the old and welcome God's new for us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get too comfortable in life. Sorry for the times I am not willing to give up the old things in favor of new things from you. Sorry for being hard headed. Lord, help me. I want to open up and surrender. I want to let go – of my sins, of my bad habits, of other things in life that are not of you. as I let go of these things, I ask that you send me with new things, new blessings. Fill me up with things that are of you. I will make space for you in my life and my heart. Use it whatever way you want. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/09/old-is-good.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-life.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 2, 2016
Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 435

Reading 1 1 Cor 4:1-5

Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Alleluia Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 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.’”