Word to the Wise
Monday, January 18, 2016 - Monday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 15:16-23 and Mark 2:18-22]MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 ST. MARGARET OF HUNGARY, O.P. [1 Samuel 15:16-23 and Mark 2:18-22. Scriptures may vary at Dominican locales.] "Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins." [Mark] I think of Jesus' image of the wine and wineskins when my very patient webmaster is trying to explain the latest requirements for my laptop or cell phone. It is definitely a case of pouring new wine into an old skin! Jesus' casual attitude about certain Jewish observances was "new wine" to the "old skins" of the religious authorities of his time. Some of them would dismiss him with the attitude, "What can you expect from a Galilean?" Others, however, found him very threatening. The word, "new" would not be in their vocabulary. It is the ones who felt threatened that the Gospel of Mark is pointing to. The drama of tension that is shown in today's gospel passage will gradually build until the threatened authorities find a way to get rid of Jesus, whose teachings are "new." In our own Church now, there are those who find Pope Francis threatening. His message of mercy and welcome to the sinner is a threat to those who would consider themselves "perfect" or at least "true believers." His image of the Church as a "field hospital" for sinners and not a club for a spiritual elite runs against the grain of some folks. There is no question that people are more attracted to his vision than previous visions. I pray for his good health and continued leadership of mercy. He is definitely a "new wine" for our old skins. I hope we can hold on! AMEN
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