Old is not gold

July 8, Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 27: 1–5, 15–29; Gospel: Matthew 9: 14–17

We have an age-old saying that old is gold. Now is the time for us to think that all the old things are not gold. Today, our society functions in three ways. First, it always tries to keep up with the old one, never accepting anything new. The second way is just opposite the first one. They always want the new ones, leaving the old ones behind. The third way is the in-between position, trying to keep the old and the new.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, gives a beautiful life lesson. The Pharisees questioned the disciples of Jesus about their lifestyle. Jews, in their religious lives, have the habit of fasting often. In general, all Jews are expected to fast one day a week. The Pharisees were fasting twice a week. Jesus’ disciples did not The Pharisees have questions about this one. Jesus gives them an answer. His answer is very clear. His ways and his teachings are new. His method is new.

So one who wants to follow Jesus should come to the new,  leaving the old altogether. The problem with pharisees is this: they want to follow Jesus without leaving the old customs. So they try to patch the new with the old. So Jesus says that he is a new wine that cannot be kept in the old wineskins.

As Christians, we cannot hold back all the evils of the past and past cultures. Let’s take up the new ones. Old is always not gold.