9. FOLLOWING JESUS – YOUNG WINE, NEW WINESKINS
Patroness of the month – Mary, Mother of hope, pray for us
Hope always brings newness and change. In humble and trusting fulfillment of God’s will, Mary was open to the unexpected, the impossible, the incomprehensible. From the Annunciation to the Ascension, She remained faithful in hope. In the hope that has the power to make a mother out of a virgin, apostles out of fishermen, and followers of the Son out of sinners. The tenderness and care of the Mother of Hope pour out wine from the stone jars, and the new wine is poured into new wineskins. To be like Her, following her example.
Intention of the month
Let us pray for the Union of the Catholic Apostolate, so that our whole life would be an apostolate aimed at reviving faith, kindling love and strengthening hope.
Lectio Divina
“They are the ones he chose especially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son” (Rom 8:29).
St. Vincent Pallotti writes
If all Christians are obliged to imitate O. L. J. C., with what greater perfection, diligence and fervour must we imitate him who have the gift of having the very Life of O. L. J. C. as the fundamental Rule of our minimal Congregation (OOCC III, 35-36).
OWL
“We are to follow Jesus, who, in his human life shows us that “God is love.”
We contemplate him in his hidden and public life. We accept suffering and death with him and hope to share with him in his resurrection” (12).
Exercise
Proposal for the community:
Individual reading and meditation on the document “New wine in new wineskins“. Community sharing of reading. An attempt at reflection. For example, what is “today” the most current call in following Jesus, for me and my community, to be creative, ready for change and attentive to the coming Lord?
