Monday 16 January 2023

Today is Monday the 16th of January, in the second week of Ordinary time.

Eliza King sings, ‘All Things New’. How do you notice Christ making things new for you at the moment?


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
Sought 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 Mark.


Mark 2:18-22

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 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.’

The beginning of the year offers a time for change and many people make hopeful New Year resolutions. Is this something that you do? If you do, how have they progressed?

The gospel that accompanies the turning of the year gives us the same opportunities for renewal. The actions of John the Baptist and his followers followed their tradition and were admirable. There are many who live their faith through a loyalty and devotion to visible practices and habits. What meaning does this have for you?

In his response, Jesus speaks of a new way, a faith that is relational, an interior movement of the heart and mind towards God shown by how we are with other people. We may be willing to make the change. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. We may be comfortable in our ‘old cloaks’, hoping that small adjustments will be enough.

As you listen to the passage again, hear the contrast between the criticism and the invitation. Where are you in this conflict? Consider your response.

Jesus invites you to step into a new life. In this time of prayer share your thoughts with the Lord.


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.