Jesus is engaged in trying to get the Pharisees to see something new. But to do that, they must let go of what is old. They must be “made new” in order to receive the Good News He brings, the Truth that He is.
But they show they have not let go of anything at all, because they are still demanding that the One who makes all things new conform to the old cloak, fit into the old wineskin, as it were. Accusingly, they point to all the ways Jesus’ disciples fail to conform to their understanding of the Law, showing again that their attitude toward the Law cramps their own capacity to grasp the liberating power of it. They are like old wineskins, worn out and ready to rupture, unable to hold the “new wine” of Christ’s teaching. Their spiritual blindness, their clinging to their own positions and opinions, have made them incapable of receiving the New Covenant of grace.
Our souls and our capacity to receive what Jesus has won for us can also become like threadbare clothes or old, brittle wineskins. We want God to fit into our cramped understanding, or operate according to our personal rules. We can become weak and rigid, unable to hear, receive, and act generously upon God’s Word, unless we open ourselves to the transformation of grace. In order to properly receive something new, we must be open to being surprised! We must be open to being made new by the One who makes all things new.
We begin this journey of being made new at Baptism, when we are cleansed of sin and anointed into Christ – into His Body and into His mission. And then we must live this new life daily by walking with Him and opening ourselves to the many gifts offered to us in the sacraments and at prayer – gifts of grace to heal our brokenness and blindness, strengthen our weakness, increase our capacity for all that is good and true, and feed our souls with the very Bread of Heaven.
In the sacraments, we are made a new creation again and again. Offering ourselves fully to Love and in service of the Good News of salvation (and all that it requires of us), we become new wineskins, ready to receive the rich wine of the Bridegroom of our souls, the One who loves us unconditionally with a Heart burning with desire to draw us to Himself!
Jesús está enfocado en que los fariseos vean algo nuevo. Pero para que pase eso, tienen que desprenderse de lo viejo. Tienen que ser “renovados” para recibir la Buena Nueva que Él trae, la Verdad que Él es.
Pero demuestran que no han renunciado a nada en absoluto, porque siguen exigiendo que Aquel que hace nuevas todas las cosas se ajuste al manto viejo, que encaje en el odre viejo, por así decirlo. Con tono acusador, señalan todas las maneras en que los discípulos de Jesús no se ajustan a su comprensión de la Ley, demostrando una vez más que su actitud hacia la Ley limita su propia capacidad de comprender su poder liberador. Son como odres viejos, desgastados y a punto de romperse, incapaces de contener el “vino nuevo” de la enseñanza de Cristo. Su ceguera espiritual, su aferramiento a sus propias posiciones y opiniones, los ha hecho incapaces de recibir la Nueva Alianza de la gracia.
Nuestras almas y nuestra capacidad de recibir lo que Jesús ha ganado para nosotros también pueden volverse como ropa desgastada u odres viejos y quebradizos. Queremos que Dios encaje en nuestra comprensión limitada o que actúe según nuestras reglas personales. Podemos volvernos débiles y rígidos, incapaces de escuchar, recibir y actuar con generosidad según la Palabra de Dios, a menos de que nos abramos a la transformación de la gracia. Para recibir adecuadamente algo nuevo, ¡debemos estar abiertos a la sorpresa! Debemos estar abiertos a ser renovados por Aquel que hace nuevas todas las cosas.
Comenzamos este camino de renovación en el Bautismo, cuando somos limpiados del pecado y ungidos en Cristo, en su Cuerpo y en su misión. Y luego debemos vivir esta vida nueva diariamente caminando con Él y abriéndonos a los muchos dones que se nos ofrecen en los sacramentos y en la oración: dones de gracia para sanar nuestra quebrantamiento y ceguera, fortalecer nuestra debilidad, aumentar nuestra capacidad para todo lo bueno y verdadero, y alimentar nuestras almas con el mismo Pan del Cielo.
En los sacramentos, somos hechos una nueva creación una y otra vez. Ofreciéndonos plenamente al Amor y al servicio de la Buena Nueva de salvación (y de todo lo que Ella exige de nosotros), nos convertimos en odres nuevos, dispuestos a recibir el vino rico del Esposo de nuestras almas, Aquel que nos ama incondicionalmente con un Corazón ardiente de deseo de atraernos a Sí mismo.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Artist Unknown, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/divine-mercy-16719/
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Felix Urcia was born in Lima, Peru. He moved the U.S. to complete his college degree in Computer Science at Northern Kentucky University. He is passionate about his faith, his family, education and soccer. When he is not homeschooling and caring for his young children he enjoys personal programing projects and sports analysis. He and wife live in a small town in Western Michigan where they enjoy spending time with their five children.
Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on 
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has three children, a degree in theology, and enjoys writing about philosophy, theology, culture, music, and comedy. You can find his personal blog, Serious Daydreams, on 
Hailing from Nashville, Catherine is a graduate of Christendom College with a lifelong passion for words. Her love of writing and her Catholic Faith continue to shape her as a freelance editor, copywriter, and (aspiring) novelist, where she pursues her passions for the love and greater glory of God.
Elizabeth Tomlin is the author of Joyful Momentum: Building and Sustaining Vibrant Women’s Groups and contributing author to the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She is General Counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Elizabeth is an Army wife and mother of three and currently lives in Oklahoma. You can find her at @elizabethannetomlin on social media and she blogs at 
Lily is a Michigan native and cradle Catholic who has spent most of her life exploring her own reasons to embrace her faith fully. She attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she discovered the beauty of her personal relationship with Christ and the Church. After college, she worked in Montessori Education for three years and recently transitioned to nannying. She was recently married and spends most of her time reading, and enjoying her dog and family!
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
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