Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God’s Blessing

Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God’s Blessing Today’s readings centers on the tension between the old and the new, . . . . . . especially in the spiritual life. Using Jesus’ parables about wineskins and unshrunk cloth, the message underscores that the Gospel cannot be contained or constrained by old patterns, structures, or attitudes. Jesus brings something fundamentally new . . . the joy of the Bridegroom’s presence . . . which cannot simply “patch up” what is old but requires full transformation. The Homily draws a parallel with the Virgin Mary, who was created as the perfect vessel . . . the “new wineskin” . . . to receive Jesus Christ. Similarly, we must allow our hearts to be made new to receive the grace and power of the Gospel. Mary Spiritually Clothes Us The Homily also brings in the story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate this renewal through Mary’s intercession. Just as Rebecca clothed Jacob in Esau’s garments to receive his father’s blessing, Mary spiritually clothes us in the virtues of Christ so we can be pleasing to God the Father. The message ends by challenging us to ask whether our old, tired hearts are ready to receive Christ fully and encourages us to rely on Mary’s help to be transformed . . . so we may truly become new vessels fit to receive and share the new wine of salvation. Listen more to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God’s Blessing ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily The more we draw near to Our Lady, the more our hearts are open in love and trust to her, the more she begins to clothe us in the virtues of Jesus. Those things that are so very pleasing to Almighty God the Father, the more we draw near to her, the more we come to resemble that one whom the father loves. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Virgin Lamb: French Painter: William Adolphe Bouguereau: 1903 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 9: 14-17 First Reading: Genesis 27: 1-5, 15-29