Friday 2 September 2022

Today is Friday 2nd September, in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time.

Eliza King sings, ‘All Things New’. As you begin to pray, become aware of God’s loving gaze upon you now…

You break like the light of the sun
Bringing colour to shadows
Christ, it was you all along
You’re the words of an ancient song, we’ve been singing
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You rise, as the bright morning star
We were blind but we see you now
The light of the world here with us
You’re a fire making holy ground, by your spirit
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You’re the treasure of the ages
Sort for generations
How the prophets longed to see what we have seen
You’re the final word incarnate
Leaping from the pages
You’re the burning heart behind the mystery
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 5:33-39

Then they said to him, ‘John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.’ Jesus said to them, ‘You cannot make wedding-guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.’ He also told them a parable: ‘No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, “The old is good.” ’

Today's reading highlights the old ways of being a disciple and the new ways of being a disciple who follows Jesus.

Imagine that you are sitting at the table celebrating with Levi.


During the feast, you hear a criticism of the disciples’ behaviour, who eat and drink together in public rather than making a show of fasting and praying.

How do you feel when you hear this?

Now look towards Jesus as he talks about the wedding feast and the presence of the bridegroom.


How do you feel about Jesus who is perhaps describing himself as bridegroom, the One who is sharing the banquet with you right now?


As you listen to the reading again, notice how Jesus explains about the difficulty in acceptance between the new ways and the old ways.


End your time of prayer by sharing your thoughts with Jesus the bridegroom who sits beside you now.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.