... so both are preserved

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Amos 9:11-15 Psalm 85:9-14 Matthew 9:14-17

Matthew 9:17  Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

I always assumed this verse was talking about how the new covenant is replacing the old one and the old one is no good anymore.  But when I read this again it doesn't necessarily seem that way.  I think that in the Psalm reading to day it says that salvation is at hand.  Jesus says that by not putting new wine in old skins "both" are preserved.  He doesn't say anything about being replaced.  He seems to say there are different circumstances for different people.

In other words, the Jews, even though they had no knowledge of Christ and were not under the new covenant an still be saved based on the covenant they were under.  This means to me that whatever our situation, be true to what we are and what we have before us.  God has some rules, but we must be faithful in following what we know and what we believe. 

In today's church that has many different belief systems this is important.  Who is right? we all have opinions, and someone might be right.  But if we are honest and faithful to what we truly know and believe, then we can stand before God with a sense of comfort that if we are wrong we truly did what we thought was right rather than trying to be something we are not.  God does not like deception.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always seek to be honest and faithful to what I know and believe to be true.  Help me to not try to be a fake Christian, but one in truth and faith.

Amen