joy of nine9

 Gospel for September 04, 2015: Luke 5:33-39

The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus’ disciples because they did not fast. Jesus simply explains the obvious; there’s a time for fasting and a time for feasting. The disciples of Jesus are experiencing joy, just like the joy of the wedding party in celebrating with the groom. For the disciples, this is a time for rejoicing in the Lord’s presence. The time for seeking the Lord with fasting will come after His death.

Jesus goes on to warn his disciples about closed minds that refuse to learn new ways of thinking with the example of new and old wine skins. New wine poured into skins was still fermenting which released gases and exerted pressure. New wine skins were flexible enough to handle this pressure, but old wine skins were too rigid and would burst. Jesus doesn’t want us to hold rigidly to the past or be resistant to the filling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. He wants our minds and hearts to be like the new wine skins — open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit.

Ponder:

Are you joyful because of the Lord’s presence within you?

Pray:

Lord, may I always find joy in You.