In his homily at Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said that the Gospel is new and that we should not fear the Church's changes.
The Pope explained that Jesus asks us to put aside our 'old structuresâ?, calling us to put new wine into new wineskins.
POPE FRANCIS
'For new wine, new wineskins. And for this reason, the Church asks us, all of us, some changes. She asks us to leave aside the old structures: they are of no use! And to take up new wineskins, those of the Gospel.â?
The Pope also said that one can only live the Gospel fully with a joyful and renewed heart.
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S HOMILY
Source: Vatican Radio
'New wine, new wineskins: the â??noveltyâ?? of the Gospel â?? and what does the Gospel bring us? Joy and renewal [It. novití ]. These Doctors of the Law were hidebound by their commandments, their rules. St. Paul, speaking of them, tells us that, before faith came â?? that is, Jesus â?? we were all kept in custody, as prisoners under the Law. This Law, of this people, was not bad: they were cared for, but they were prisoners, awaiting the advent of faith â?? that faith, which would be revealed in Christ, itself.â?
'One of you might say to me: â??But Father, donâ??t Christians have laws?â?? Yes. Jesus said: â??I do not come to [abolish the Law], but to fulfill it.â?? â?? and the Beatitudes, for example â?? the law of love â?? total love â?? as Jesus loved us, are the fullness of the Law. Jesus, when he reproves these Doctors of the Law, is taking them to task for not caring for the people with the Law, but making them slaves to so many little laws, so many little things that had to be done.â?
St. Paul distinguishes well between children of the law and children of faith. For new wine, new wineskins. And for this reason, the Church asks us, all of us, some changes. She asks us to leave aside the old structures:they are of no use! And to take up new wineskins, those of the Gospel. The mentality of â?? for examples, of these doctors of the law can't be understood, of these Pharisaical theologians: their mentality cannot be understood with the spirit of the Gospel. They are different. The style of the Gospel is a different style, which brings us to the fullness of the law. Yes! But in a new way: it is the new wine in new wineskins.
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