Homily for the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Jesus used vivid imagery to highlight what is essential in life. He compared His ministry to new wine, indicating that this new wine required new wineskins. The traditional ways of doing things would no longer suffice. Nevertheless, Jesus also respected His Jewish traditions and the Scriptures that nourished and inspired Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated that He came not to abolish the Law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. He did not claim to be starting from scratch; rather, He greatly valued Jewish tradition. His aim was to bring about a greater richness and fullness within it. He sought to renew Israel’s tradition, not discard it. His perspective suggests that we should neither abandon our religious traditions nor treat them as a static set of rules and practices.

The Church constantly needs reform and renewal; the new wine of the Holy Spirit will always require new wineskins. Renewal involves honoring the best aspects of our traditions, allowing their rich potential to be fully realized.