Today's Gospel is from Matthew 9:14-17 where Jesus tells us a parable of the old and new. He gave us an example of sewing a piece of new cloth to old cloth and how it would pull away because it was not shrunken. When we wash this garment after the installation, what happens? The piece we sewed on shrinks but causes the fit to be awkward. Now if we had pre-shrunk the material it would fit nicely. So in a sense we need to prepare ourselves in order for us to fit in with Jesus and God's plan.
Next he gives us another example but with wineskins.What he tell us, is that how we are in our life, with sin, we are not capable of receiving new wine. It is with penance that we refresh ourselves to receive new wine (blood of Christ). Where we become in union with our Lord. Just as Jesus is one with the Father, so too shall we when we put on fresh wineskins.

I brought this one up from the archives for today. No matter what we go through in life, when we sin, we do not have room for any new wine. Reconciliation restores us to grace and allows us to put on new skin and to be filled anew with the Holy Spirit. Without cleansing we would not be able to hold within us the gift that God gives us. The blood of his Son.

Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east. In search of the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it. Amos 8:11-12

Are we witnessing this ourselves, a famine for the hearing the word of the LORD. Granted there are many places that have a famine of bread and water. But today, Amos gives us a different famine, one of faith.

We say we are going through a dry spell with our religion, unhappy with our churches. We don't like what is preached to us, so we go in search of a new religion, a new deliverer of the message, yet never satisfied. Some go from sea to sea in search of the word of the Lord, and amazing too they don't find it. Can we say we are happy where we are? Are we hearing the word of the Lord?
If our Catholic faith has grown then why are so many churches empty, and disappearing. Have we gone from sea to sea to find the word of God in someone who knows Him. Or do we go from sea to sea to hear what we want to hear, where we will never hear the word of God.

I was just thinking about how women tend to say about their husbands, they have selective hearing. Then I would say we too have this when we choose not to hear his word, because we don't want to be woken up from our spiritual slumber. Or be reminded that we are not living a life that is part of God's plan, but ours.

The man I had a relationship with, I once said to him, that I would pray for for the removal of the blinders on his eyes, and he promptly said, no don't do that, I don't want to see. In other words he chose the path of evil, and didn't want to see the destruction he was causing others.

What a spiritual famine we have come to. It's time to remove the blinders and see the destruction we are doing to ourselves.

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins." Matthew 9:4-6

The vote would be to say your sins are forgiven. But with great faith, we could get up and walk. Which Jesus did for the paralytic.

Those who brought this man to Jesus, wanted to have him physically healed. What they did for him, showed Jesus the faith they had in him to take care of one of their family members. Since Jesus knows our hearts, he also knew the paralytics, he forgave him first. Which enabled him to receive the gift of physical healing.

What is it in our lives that holds back forgiveness and healing. What keeps us away from God? Is it pride? Is it the practice of evil? Is it in breaking a commandment? Is it the abuse of power? Or is it that you just don't really believe? There could be more but I will stop at these, only you know.

Jesus teaches us about forgiveness, because he knows we sometimes do not forgive. You hear about families, that stop speaking with each other. It usually is one or two members of the family that it happens to. There are many out there who go their whole life without forgiving each other, and go to their death with this with them. And all too often they seek physical healing while alive, yet will not forgive and reconcile with those they are separated from. Then how do we expect to reconcile with God if we cannot do so in our own lives. Love of neighbor does not hold grudges, it enables forgiveness. Don't wait until your last breath to say your sorry to someone you have not spoken with all your life. It is the healing that will mend your soul. Until then you will remain paralyzed, until you bring forgiveness into your life.

"What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him,"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."And he said to them, "Go then!" Matthew 8:29-32

Interesting to note, the statement the demons made. What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time? They recognized Jesus right off. Interesting how those who are of evil recognize the hand of God faster than believers. Is it perhaps because they know their time has come to an end, as with the one's we read about today, before their appointed time. Woe to those who follow evil for their time is soon coming to an end.

We read how powerful Jesus is against evil, so it will be evil's undoing. On that day we will rejoice along with the heavens that the power of God has rid the earth of the torment of evil.

It is not too late, to bring about a cleansing of self. To purify our souls, in order to make ourselves ready. Keep the fire of God's love alive within, let it burn brightly for all to see. This is what God seeks of us, to be a light, that will never go out.

Don't be the one's that are put into swine and thrown into the sea to drown, choose life, not death.

"Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this,whom even the winds and the sea obey?" Matthew 8:25-27

Meditation:

We are afloat in a boat adrift in a turbulent sea. The times for us are troublesome. It takes much to have faith in a boat that is about to sink. And Jesus asks, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Well for one, dear Lord it seems, from what people write about your church, it seems it is filled with evil, than good. You called these apostles to you to show us that you are the way, but in the process have they sought out the father of lies.

In today's reading you show us how you quieted the winds and the sea. This should frighten many for the very basis of how you can take care of the elements. That by your word alone you can take care of those who mock, and follow the way of evil. The power you have to do this was not given to your apostles, but was yours alone so they would know that you are the might of heaven.

It is a power that he alone has, and many seek this but in the way of following the desires of the flesh, the desires of power, and the desires of evil. Blessed are those who believe in God and stay steadfast and true to his holy word, and seek his way and not of evil.