Tearing or Replacing Spirituality?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Second Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Lk 5:33-39*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 4:1-5*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40*

*Tearing or Replacing Spirituality?*

*1) The issue of Tearing*

The dictionary has the following meaning 

Pull apart 

To pieces with force

It shows a violent approach towards something. 

Tearing also creates a kind pain and damage to a particular things 

*2) Problems with Tearing*

When something is torn, it disfigures the whole things 

Some part is left and other part is separated from the original one.

By tearing one can't replace the old with new

Neither the new thing matches to the old 

Since tearing is violent process, it creates lot of pain 

Once something is torn, it can't be brought back to the original shape, unless the entire thing is replaced 

*3) Jesus on tearing*

Jesus uses the concept of tearing in today's Gospel 

In the context of clarifying the questions of the Pharisees, about fasting Jesus says, *No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.*

Because, both pieces of clothes will be spoiled 

Old and New will not match 

Since the old has no much life, once again it will tear. In such situation, the new thing also becomes useless

*4) Jesus on Replacement*

Instead of Tearing Jesus uses another concept, that is the *Replacement*

Old is replaced with new. In this context the entire thing becomes new

Old represents here, outdated, not in a condition to use, useage will incure more damage than benefits

*5) Tearing, Replacement and Spirituality*

The whole argument, here shows a higher or deeper truths about our spiritual life 

Tearing the old self, the negative self or the sinful self will not help since the other part remains in the same place. So it will destroy both new and the old one 

Tearing also damages the self, since it involves a very violent approach towards something. Force does not yeild much fruit in spiritual life 

In the context Jesus proposes an alternative, that is, the replacement 

Old is replaced with New. In this case, the old does not trouble since old does not exist any more 

The entire thing becomes new, and the new functions in a better way than the past old one 

Replacement Theory is best for our spiritual life 

*6) Replacement Spirituality*

Replace anger with patience

Replace hatred with Love 

Replace jealousy with good attitude 

Replace greed with generosity 

Replace revenge with forgiveness

Replace selfishness with selflessness

Replace gossip with good news 

Replace laziness with creativity

Replace lose talk with silence 

Replace discouragement with encouragement

Replace miserliness with generosity

Replace sin with holiness

Replace theory with practical things 

Am I ready for replacement spirituality?  

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*