Saturday 2 July 2022
Amos 9:11-15. The Lord speaks of peace to his people – Psalm 84(85):9, 11-14. Matthew 9:14-17.
A new way of following God
The question comes from the disciples of John the Baptist, the man who baptised Jesus. John’s followers were most likely on friendly terms with the disciples and seem to be legitimately wondering why Jesus’ followers weren’t more outwardly devout. In the verses prior, Jesus had received similar criticism for dining with ‘sinners’. Funny how Jesus’ eating habits could raise such ire. Jesus’ response is cryptic, and I wonder what the questioners made of it. New wine is poured into new wineskins, new patches go on new garments, in each case to preserve both the old and the new. Jesus is implying that people will follow God a new way; that they won’t need to fast to feel close to God, because God is with them. The Pharisees were living according to the old way of rule and ritual, Jesus is shifting that focus on to him as a new way of following God.
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