I have to be careful when I'm reading the Christ Renews His Parish handbook. It's actually very good. And I believe the people who wrote it knew that because it mentions several times that the reading of the handbook shouldn't overshadow reading the bible.
The handbook carefully ties together bible readings and the application of our roles in this renewal process. Today I read, "Reflection allows us to integrate our new experience and our previous knowledge." The more I think about that statement, the more I say to myself, "Well, of course!" It makes perfect sense for us to reflect on God's presence in our lives. He encouraged us all to attend the CRHP Weekend Retreat. But now what?
Perhaps you attended the weekend, but didn't take the step to join the next team. What else can you do for your God? Jesus called his disciples to leave everything behind and come follow him. If not through the CRHP program, what other way? Can you be a Eucharistic Minister? Can you attend one weekday Mass? Can you volunteer as an usher?
And for those of us who did accept this invitation to be part of the Renewal Team, how can we grow?
The handbook made a wonderful comparison - I'll paraphrase.
The parable of the old wine skin - you can't add new wine to old wine skins because the new wine will destroy the old skin. But according to the CRHP handbook, that "warning can be wrongly applied." Jesus does not ask us to throw away our old wine, because it is the wine of the new covenant. But we are asked to "check our wine cellars". If any of our wine is bad, it's because we did not drink it in time, so throw it out! There will also be some wine that was never good in the first place, so why are we hanging onto it? If the wine is ripe for drinking - open it up and share it with friends. Don't hoard your good wine!
So...how can I apply this to my life? I'm going to reflect on my "wine". We all have our past - our wine cellars - that are filled with bottle and bottle of choices, actions, and events that we can either hide or share. Today, I'm going to throw away my wine bottles of addictions. I will open a fine bottle of Merlot (no analogy here, I will actuall enjoy a glass of wine today!) with friends and celebrate the dusting of my wine cellar.
My new wine, my growth in faith, will not destroy my wine skins. I'll not throw the old skins out - just the wine they contained. The old skins will remind me of the mistakes I've made and the beauty of forgiveness. Our God is a powerful God. His love for us never ends. All we need to do is ask.
John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will recieve, so that your joy may be complete." That is the assurance of answered prayer.
Meditate on that.
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