Today we have a very beautiful first reading. Jesus is appointed high priest by his Father – so that he might make intercession for us – this, of course, after experiencing exactly what it is like to be one of us (except for sin): when we pray for anything, he knows what we are talking about!
The disobedience of Adam cost him God's friendship! God's-Friendship-Become-Man: Jesus – by an act of great obedience, learned through great suffering - developed the perfection of his own human life, as well as became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him!
This is now, then, the ordinary chain of command: Jesus: always obedient to the will of the Father – come what may – even an ignominious death on a Cross; us: obedient to Jesus in all things, especially in carrying our own cross and thus being eligible to share in the everlasting life now prepared for us!
And we know that we don't have to do this (carry our cross) "on our own!" So long as we are open-minded and willing to be taught – Jesus can show us how to do it with as little discomfort and pain as possible: but he most likely won't take it all away! We must earn our place in heaven: like he earned his!
Therefore, shrunken cloth is used to patch an old cloak, and new wine is poured into new wineskins – so that everything will come out as it should! Meaning for us: new things that Jesus sends to us everyday about our faith ought to be welcomed with open arms and minds and hearts – because each morning we are a brand new person!
Today our country celebrates the faith and vision of one of its most heroic and beloved figures: Martin Luther King, Jr. He welcomed the challenge of each new day – he was born again each morning – and he saw that things could be different – and now they are different: different in a very big way: as we will see tomorrow when the first African-American man is inaugurated President of the United States.
We thank Martin Luther King, Jr. for his example and steadfastness and pray that all goes well on Inauguration Day in Washington, D.C.
The bridegroom is with us; the Lord is here – it is not the time for fasting, but rather the time for rejoicing!
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