New Wine

Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.
Mt.9:17

Jesus is asked why his followers don't fast as John the Baptist's followers and the Pharisees do. In reply, Jesus introduces a new discipline in place of rote fasting, the discipline of discernment.

There is a time for every purpose under heaven, a time for fasting and a time for feasting. Seasons and circumstance change. I need to be discerning in my Christian walk but I don't trust my own discernment. I need the wisdom, discernment and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.

The Power of Friendship

Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ 
Mt.9:2

A paralytic is brought to Jesus by his friends. Their action reveals faith that fuels a double healing for the paralytic, healing of his body and forgiveness of his sins.

Jesus has never called me to be a Lone Ranger. I both need friends and need to be a friend. When this two way synergy is happening, there is church. 

Lord Jesus, show me the people needing my friendship and help me be befriended today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me. 

What's the Motive

A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ 
Mt.8:1-3

Jesus has just completed his Sermon on the Mount. His first act from spontaneous compassion is to heal a leper. 

The Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded teaching from Jesus. It's as though Jesus says "Enough talk", as he instantly heals the leper. He is almost impatient to heal. 

For Jesus, there was a time to teach and a time to act. For me, there is a time to listen and a time to act. Listening without acting is not an option in the Christian life. I just need to be sure the action is motivated by love. 

Jesus, sometimes I'm impulsive not from love. I can be impatient, judgemental, and angry. Help me check my motivation before acting.
Saint Peter, man of tamed impulsiveness, please pray for me

Loosed on Earth

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
Mt.16:19

The greatest authority Jesus could give the Church was the authority to forgive sins. Authority over demons, over sickness, even over death are all lesser. As the Pharisees acknowledged, only God can forgive sins. 

The most anticipated event of my reception into the Church was receiving Holy Communion. A very close second was receiving absolution in the sacrament of confession. I strained for the peace I knew only this sacrament could give. 

It's time I again darkened the doorway of the confessional.

Saints Peter and Paul, please pray for me.

The Narrow Gate

Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Mt.7:13,14

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount with a warning that the road to hell is deceptively easy and attractive while the road to eternal life can be difficult and requires effort.

This is counter to popular belief, even within the Church, that you have to work to go to hell and that most people will simply drift into heaven without effort. 

I'm finding that, yes, following Jesus involves sacrifice, selflessness, discipline, lifting up others, self denial... in short, it requires effort. But, I'm also finding it a joyful way to live here and now. The benefits aren't just eternal but also temporal.

Lord, help me choose the narrow gate today, the difficult way that leads to you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Where's my Heart

Store up treasures for yourselves in heaven.
Mt.6:20

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, warning of the destruction that follows earthly lust and endorsing the benefits of heavenly treasure.

There is a tension here for me as I live in the world. Worldliness is required to eat, to sleep, to work, even to love. What I'm hearing Jesus say is that while engaged in my world, keep one eye firmly fixed on heaven.  That keeps it all in perspective. 

Saint Paul, please pray for me.

It Starts with Forgiving

Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.
Mt.6:15

Jesus chooses to highlight one particular verse from his newly given prayer to the Church. Forgive us as we forgive others.

This puts the "love your enemies" and "pray for those who persecute you" commands into action. My loving and my intercession can only come from my first forgiving. Jesus knew that following him is as easy and as difficult as that.

Saint Stephen, please pray for me.