Readings; 1 Samuel 15:16-23; Psalm 50; Mark 2:18-22
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins. But one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
I’ll get right to the point – and I am speaking from experience: yes, Jesus is telling us that if we let our hearts grow old and cold and hard, we run the risk of not being able or willing as Christians to face new challenges, or difficult situations. To put our faith in new “wineskins” is essential, if we want to continue to accept the love of Christ. A simple “patch job”” will not work.
As we get older, old habits become hard to break. We become set in our ways. What were once just opinions are now likely our firm beliefs. This is natural. We are less likely or willing to look at issues with an open mind, such as opposing views that divide and polarize people and that are often presented on social media and on TV. It is even a bit harder for us to face other people’s concerns. After all, we have our own and are even less able to solve them!
This is the challenge we face. If we refuse to allow our hearts to be filled with new ways to live and to love, our hearts will surely grow old and hard. It becomes harder to accept those who have slighted us or those living on the margins of society. When/if that day comes and our hearts harden to the point that we are no longer able to accept God’s call to love those who don’t love us and to forgive those who don’t forgive us, can we call ourselves Christians?
Accepting the challenges we face each day (and that included getting older) with an open and understanding heart is the best way to assured that our faith will continue to grow. The words I use for this process are adjustment and accommodation, developing a softer self. As we search for ways to live and forgive, to love without conditions, our hearts will become fresh and pliable, like wineskins, ready to accept God’s endless love in all its beautiful and varied forms.