Repairing and Replacing

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 13th Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 9:14-17*

*First Reading : Gn 27:1-5, 15-29*

*Repairing and Replacing*

*1) Two familiar terms*

Today as we advance in the technological field, we often hear about two words. They are repair and replace

In the olden days the concept of repair was very prevalent. Today people speak about replacing and not repairing 

*2) Repairing and Replacing*

While repairing, a part of the thing is modified and made to work in the system. So this is the combination of old and repaired one

While replacing, one discards the old or useless things and replaced with new things 

In replacing the entire thing becomes new and it works in a better way 

*3) Repairing and  Replacing in  Today's Gospel*

Today's Gospel speaks about these two things 

Jesus says *No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.*

Further Jesus says *People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.*

So here there is no question of repairing but replacing the old with new, for new things 

*4) Evil can not be repaired but need to be replaced with Good*

The theory of repairing and replacing is very much useful in handling good and bad

Bad in our life can't be repaired. The moment we try to repair it, certain amount if evil still remains in us. 

Therefore the only solution in removing the evil things in us is through replacing it with good things 

So remove the old things and replace it with new things. So there will be no issues 

*5) Conversion/Change of Life consists in Replacing bad with Good things*

All of us speak about the change of Life or conversion in life. 

This is nothing but, replacing the bad with good things 

Jesus came to replace the bad with good things. This is nothing but building the Kingdom of God 

*6) Replacing is very tedious Work*

The task of Replacing bad with Good in Spiritual life is very challenging mission 

It needs a continuous efforts and powerful determination

Only then we will succeed in replacing the bad with good things 

*7) Instruments for replacing*

One should have proper instruments for replacing the bad with good things 

In our Christian life and spirituality we have powerful tools like, prayer, celebration of the sacraments penance, sacrifice, generosity, forgiveness, humility, simplicity, love, service, are some of the powerful tools 

What do I prefer in my life? Repairing or Replacing?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*