7/4/2026 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 9:14-17

14 The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
17 People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

7/4/2026 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 9:14-17

Jesus responded to questions about religious practices by revealing that His presence brings something fresh and life-giving. He taught that the new life He offers cannot simply be added to old ways of thinking. Hearts must be renewed to receive the blessings God desires to give.

Using the word NEW, we can easily remember this message.

N – Notice God’s New Work

God is always at work, doing something new in our lives. Sometimes we become comfortable with routines, traditions, and familiar ways of doing things. While traditions can be valuable, they should never prevent us from recognizing the fresh movements of God. Jesus invited people to focus not merely on rituals but on a living relationship with Him. Every day offers a new opportunity to grow, forgive, serve, and begin again. Instead of dwelling on past failures or clinging to old habits, notice how God is leading you toward a better future.

A person recovering from a painful experience discovers that God can transform wounds into wisdom. A family burdened by conflict learns that reconciliation is possible. A discouraged worker finds renewed purpose and strength. God’s new work often begins quietly, but it produces lasting change.

E – Embrace Transformation

New blessings require renewed hearts. It is difficult to experience spiritual growth while holding tightly to resentment, pride, or fear. Jesus came not merely to improve lives but to transform them. He invites us to become more compassionate, more trusting, and more willing to follow God’s plans.

Embracing transformation means being open to change. It may involve letting go of harmful attitudes, forgiving someone who hurt us, or stepping out in faith when God calls us to something greater. Just as fresh seeds need fertile soil to grow, God’s grace flourishes in hearts that are willing to be shaped and renewed.

Transformation is not always comfortable, but it is always worthwhile. God never changes us to diminish us; He changes us to make us more loving, joyful, and faithful.

W – Walk with Joy and Wisdom

Jesus compared His presence to a time of celebration. Life with Him is not meant to be lived in constant fear or gloom but with joy, gratitude, and hope. Walking with Him daily gives us wisdom to know when to rejoice, when to sacrifice, and when to persevere.

Walking with joy does not mean life is free from trials. Rather, it means we trust that God remains with us through every season. Wise believers understand that faith is more than outward practices; it is a relationship that transforms the heart and affects every aspect of life.

Today, remember NEW:

N – Notice God’s New Work.
E – Embrace Transformation.
W – Walk with Joy and Wisdom.

God specializes in making all things new. When we open our hearts to Him, He renews our minds, strengthens our spirits, and leads us into a life filled with hope, purpose, and lasting joy.

Go here to read Gospel reflection.