The Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb 3:7-8).
This passage is related to another passage which says, “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine spilled, and the skins destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Mt 9:17).
It is dangerous living a life under the influence of the ‘except for’ and ‘but’ factors. They are related to each other and lead to a hardened heart incapable of holding the ‘new wine,’ which is sanctifying grace or God’s divine life in the soul.
The ‘except for’ factor is as follows: “I will be faithful to you O Lord, except for something I do not agree with.” This happens because of inherent pride in which someone makes themselves their own pope.
The ‘but’ factor is a bit different. “I will be faithful to you O Lord, but I am unwilling to give up something sinful because of my attachment to it.”
Both of these are a result of a hardened heart which is incapable of holding the new wine of God’s grace.
For those affected, with true humility, a soul akin to an old wineskin can be transformed into a new wine skin capable of holding God’s saving grace. Not only that, because the soul becomes pliable, it is able to grow and hold more grace, meaning a person is able to advance in holiness.
Since starting my assignment at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska the summer of 2003, I have noticed that our benefactors are, as a general rule, docile to the Holy Spirit and exhibit faith in action as described in the second chapter of James: “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead” (Jas 2:14-17).
Each year as I reflect on the generosity of our donors during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, I am grateful that the majority of them know that the poor will always be with us (Mk 14:7) and are generous through the entire year. Because of our gratitude, we not only pray for you as an agency on a daily basis, but Masses are offered for you and your intentions. There is nothing on this side of eternity as powerful as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection, which happened once and cannot be repeated, is made present (1 Cor 11:26).
If you are still looking for a great 2015 resolution, for those who attend Mass once a week, please consider, schedule permitting, to attend Mass during the week as well. Because of the extra graces, you will find that the wineskin of your soul will dramatically expand this New Year. Thank you and happy New Year!
