New Lifestyle

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012119.cfm) reminds me that following God requires a lifestyle change.

I read an article a few years ago about a car journalist who fell in love with a new car model. It was an expensive car that could not be easily purchased by normal people. And he was saying that to be able to get the car, he would need to save a lot – meaning less eating out, less shopping, and less going out to party. Then he realized that if he really wants the car, to save for it means to have a lifestyle change.

This is what God wants us to do for Him. 

In the gospel, we see that we cannot mix the old and new – old wineskins and new wine, old cloak and new one. Combining them would ruin everything. Old for old, new for new. 

No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.

If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.

What is God telling us? I believe this is a reminder from God that there are only two options: to follow him or not. We are encouraged to turn from our old way of life – from living a worldly life to living a life for God. We should choose who we would live our life for, who we would follow. We cannot say that we follow God only in some aspects of our lives we are comfortable with, and follow what we want in some aspects. It is an all or nothing thing – for God or not, the old life or the new life in Christ. Lifestyle change for God. 

Letting go is hard. We usually do not find it easy to let go of old things, much more old habits. In the gospel, we see that it is difficult for people used to old wine to give the new wine a chance, because old wine is better, because they are used to the old wine. However, we are challenged to go beyond this. It is hard to live a new life in Christ. It is more comfortable to stay in the old way of living. It is fun to stay in the old way of living. Mahirap, but once we give God a chance and live a new life in Christ, we will experience joy and happiness that our old life cannot give. 

In the first reading and the psalm, we are reminded of who we should be. Of who we are meant to be. Jesus became human like us, so we can make the way for us. We are of the priestly line. Priestly. Holy. One with God. This is who we are meant to be. Jesus understands us. He knows how hard it is. He was tempted many times. He has weaknesses as well. But we just need to have faith in him. We just need to come to him and trust him to help us. 

As we live a new life in Christ and delight in the Lord, he will give us the desires of our heart. This does not necessarily mean that once we choose him, we will get everything we want. On the other hand, we get much more than that. As we choose him, he will slowly change our ways and our hearts so that everything we desire is what God wants us to desire, is what God wants for us. Then, he will pour our his blessings on us as he sees fit.

As we start the year, we made new year's resolutions. We want to change our ways. Improve our ways. However, it may be difficult. It may be challenging. We are reminded today to move forward, to carry on and persevere to be what God wants us to be. To improve. To be better. And to be more like him. It may be difficult, but it will be worth it. 

What bad and old things, habits, people and relationships am I holding on to? What makes it hard for me to let go, even if I know they are harmful, even if I know God wants me to let go? Am I willing to give God a chance and live a new life in Him? Do I have faith that as I choose Him, he will satisfy my heart’s innermost desires?

May we have the will and desire to start anew and make our best effort to be better and be more like Him. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the opportunity to begin anew, to be better. Thank you for your word that reminds me how much you love us by wanting what is best for me. Lord, I ask that you help me let go – of all the harmful things, habits, addictions, people and relationships in my life. Help me let go of everything that is not of you. I know that this is necessary so you can fill me with everything you want me to have. Fill me with your love and blessings. May I give you a chance as I live a new life in you. Help me always choose you in my life. Make me more like you. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

January 21 2019

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 311

Reading 1 HEB 5:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Alleluia HEB 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
"Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered them,
"Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But 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 unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins."