New Wine into Fresh Wineskins

This meditation is based on a passage for February 26, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Mark 2:13-25

Reflection and Question: Amidst a series of actions by Jesus that defy tradition comes a set of images recorded in Mark, Matthew (9:16-17) and Luke (5:36-38) that capture His approach to faith and life: to sew shrunk cloth patches, not new, onto old cloaks so as not to destroy the cloaks , and to pour new wine in new wineskins so as not to burst the container. The group in the PCUSA that has helped churches leave the denomination over GLBT inclusion chose the name, “New Wineskins,” for themselves. This has always mystified me because their message so contradicts Jesus’ point in these images. What does new wine in new wineskins mean to you now?

Prayer: Jesus, Our Teacher and Guide, wine and wineskins were common in Your world long ago. May we see the equivalent now in our time and comprehend Your message. Bless us with the lightness of Spirit we need to be new wine in new wineskins. Amen.