reflection from Gospel of Matthew

Last Weekend Jo attended a prayer retreat, at the Sunday mass homily at the close of the retreat, Fr. William Goh spoke about the importance of prayer and the need to nourish the gift that God has given us. Jo asked that we restart praying together as a family. I decided to spend lunch time this week reading the Gospel from Matthew instead of doing something else; over these few days couple of phrases caught hold of my attention and seem to be linking together, with a consistent message.

Matt 9:17 'Nor do people put new wine into old wineskin; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out and the skins are lost. No;put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'
Matt 13:5 ' Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.'
Matt 17:20 'He answered, "Because you have so little faith. In truth I tell you; if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain,"Move from here to there" and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you."'

My thoughts so far; I have become aware of the Gifts that God has given us through the pilgrimage, sharing, retreat, faith community and trial. Having been made aware of these gifts I cannot continue to think, live etc the way I had in the past or the new wine in the old wineskin will be lost. Need a new wineskin to preserve this new wine. Cannot continue living and doing things the way I had in the past or this gift from God will diminish and be lost unless I change to grow and strengthen this gift in a new disposition. Similar the message about the sower dropping seed on patches of rock, again speak to me the same: that initial energy on finding the gift again, do a lot initially but then because lack roots dry-up when the sun comes out. Besides having a new disposition and roots, need to keep trust and hope with the faith that the Father has given me. Over this year I have become lazy and it is time now to renew my prayer life and continue to grow & appreciate the gift I have.

Praise the Lord for his patience, persistence and sending reminders.