No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made.
Matthew 9:16
In talking about the new life that comes to us as believers, Jesus told a couple of brief parables. One of these parables directs our attention to the process of patching clothing. When a new patch is attached to an old garment, trouble lies ahead; when they are washed and put back out in the sunlight, the new patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole in the piece that had been repaired.
There’s a lesson in the story. Old and new ways have trouble existing together.
So, when we try to adopt the new way of the kingdom of God, it’s advisable to discard our old habits. If we want to treat other people with more respect, it’s best to stop gossiping. If we want to treat our bodies as a temple of the Spirit, it’s best to stop polluting them with some of the things we might be tempted to eat, drink, or inhale. If we want to be more generous in our giving, it might be best to stop buying so many things for ourselves.
Dear God, as I am embracing Your Kingdom in this New Year, help me to welcome something new by getting rid of some old thing. Amen.