PATCH-WORK

“No one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.” –Mark 2:21

Mass Readings: January 16
First: Hebrews 5:1-10; Resp: Psalm 110:1-4; Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

Our lives are sometimes pictured as a fabric. This fabric consists of family, marriage, children, friends, work, finances, social life, habits, entertainment, service, etc. When we give our lives to Jesus, He sews into our lives “a patch of unshrunken cloth” (Mk 2:21). As this patch shrinks, it stretches all the other parts of the fabric of our lives. Therefore, we need a new lifestyle in which we are willing to be stretched and transformed. Otherwise, life in Christ will tear us apart (see Mk 2:21).

When we give our lives to Jesus, He will make us fruitful. No matter which vocation we have, we will have many spiritual children. This will radically alter our social life, give us little time to indulge our habits, distract us from our distractions, and stretch our finances. This one patch of life in Christ either tears up our lives or becomes our whole lives.

If we decide to be clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27; Rm 13:14; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10), we are then clothed with humility (1 Pt 5:5), power (Lk 24:49), mercy, kindness, meekness, and patience (Col 3:12). Let the patch of Jesus that covers one tear in your life become your entire life.

PRAYER: Father, help me change clothes, that is, the very fabric of my life.

PROMISE: “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” –Heb 5:8-9

PRAISE: Carol thought that giving up her job to stay at home with her children was bad news indeed. Now she rejoices to be able to home-school her children and raise them up in the faith.