Of Letting Go

The WORD today reminds me that I should let go of the old to receive something new. 

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.

God sees everything, even what is hidden to others. God knows what is in our hearts. The first reading tells us that he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of the heart. We may be able to hide it from other people, the bad habits and intentions, but God sees them. And eventually he will reveal it. However, as God is love, he gives us opportunities to repent and change our ways. 

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. 

What old things, old habits and old thinking am I still holding on to? What should I give up and change? Do I realize that I cannot fully enjoy God’s opportunities and new life if I hold on to old and comfortable things? What concrete way can I do to start the process?

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-

Daily Readings

• SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
• September 3, 2021
• SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

• Readings for the Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

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Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 435

Reading I

Col 1:15-20

Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
    the visible and the invisible,
    whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
    all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
    and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the Body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
    that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him 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.

Responsorial Psalm

100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R.    (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful song.
R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
    he made us, his we are;
    his people, the flock he tends.
R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R.    Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
For he is good,
    the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
    and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R.    Come with joy into the presence of 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.’”