“See, I don’t trust happiness,” says the protagonist of a movie. The joy and love he’s unexpectedly found with a widow and her son mixes with his past pain and new grief until he runs away. Can he trust God’s tender mercies and receive the new wine that displaced the old thirsts? The old wineskin no longer can hold him.
Jesus’ words ringingly call us to risk accepting joy and love. The true risk lies in rejecting them: Old wineskins will burst, old cloth will tear, the old self will keep us miserable. The joy of the Gospel is clear and certain but, in our present pain and confusion, can seem uncertain and dangerous to us.
Our hearts know the truth, for the Holy Spirit dwells there. As close as our next breath is the joy our hearts seek. Shall we feast on the limitless love poured into us? Shall we dare accept and share it?
WOW Mary. ——— I accepted love and joy into my confused life. I didn’t try to figure out how it might happen. Everything I tried had failed. So I handed it over in blind but trusting faith. I decided to taste and see. It was a journey, from the hilltop I now view the world, I know He is as good as His word. In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh. ——— No turning back for me.
Indeed, "Our hearts know the truth, for the Holy Spirit dwells there!" So what is the truth of today's Gospel reading revealed by the Holy Spirit dwelling in my heart? *** I find it interesting the question was posted by John The Baptist's disciples and they allied themselves with the Pharisees in Matthew 9:14 (Mark 2:18, Luke 5:33), "One day John’s disciples came. They said to Jesus, “We and the Pharisees often go without eating. Why don’t your disciples go without eating?” *** So what exactly was in the 'law?' Fasting was only prescribed to one day a year on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:29, 31, "Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month you must not eat anything. You must not do any work. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders...That day is a sabbath for you. You must rest on it. You must not eat anything on that day. This is a law that will last for all time to come!" *** So God prescribed one day to fast and men added their own all the other days to fast!!! ******* What was Jesus' repsonse to their question? He told them about the new and the old in Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39! So when did the old turn into the new? It is when Jesus died on the cross and raised from the death after 3 days! *** The new is here and the old has been fulfilled by Jesus! The new is totally depending on Jesus (by faith in grace alone) now! The old and repeated sacrifices of religious rituals are no longer necessary! *** Only Jesus in Galatians 2:21, "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die!" *** No religious rituals or traditions can save me or anyone, period! Only Jesus!!!
Please pray for my husband Mike who was taken to the hospital by ambulance yesterday. He is holding his own but needs prayers. Me too.
Praying for Mike and you, Anne.
Anne, praying for Mike right now. Trust in the Lord.
My Prayers are with you and Mike!
Praying for Mike and you, Anne! Psalm 91 ✝️
Amen!
Prayers to you both!
Mary great words! Gods love with the holy spirit is limitless. May we all feel his presence and love. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs these days and may the Holy Trinity fill the hearts, minds and souls of all our world leaders to guide this world under God!!!!! (I dream BIG!)
Yes we should Amen Amen Amen ????????????
My prayer "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Help me to seek you earnestly in prayer and fasting that I may turn away from sin and willfulness and conform my life more fully to your will. May I always find joy in knowing, loving, and serving you."
I just spent the 4th of July with a brother that has been difficult to be with in the past and have not spent any time with him for years. Within the the recent past I have noticed a change in him (and myself) for the better. It was good to be with him and his family, but a little unnerving to think how this new relationship will progress or not. Mary's response to today's Gospel Passage was meant for me today. I will accept this new relationship and do my best to nourish it. Thank you Mary.
Only Jesus, Dan!!!
Blessings to you and your new found relationship Dan
Amen!
Amen
Amen.
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Amen. :)