Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
FRIDAY, February 26 Ember Day
Mark 2:13-22. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.
With this simple sentence Jesus helps us confront the enigma of the old and the new. Jesus does not say the new is better, but that because it has not yet shrunk-- has not been broken in, as it were--it will not repair the rip but make the situation worse. Nor does Jesus say that the old is no longer worth using and must be discarded. So the solution is to make the new cloth compatible with the old before utilizing it.
Can we apply that to our lives and to our faith? Our Christian faith does not begin with Jesus. It begins with the faith he inherited. What we find new in Jesus' words was often not new in his own community; it is new to us only because we are ignorant of that faith. So let us learn how to treasure that older but still usable cloth--Judaism--and then see how our new cloth can be accommodated to it, so that the tear which tore apart the fabric of faith long ago may be mended. (1990)
PRAY for the Diocese of Bermuda (
Ps 95 & 40, 54 * 51; Genesis 40:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
New! Forward Day by Day is available on your Kindle or Nook!
Learn more about how you can support the Unapologetically Episcopalian Campaign to transform the church! Forward Movement stands ready -- and you can help. Don't forget to "like" Unapolgetically Episcopalian on Facebook.
Send Us Your Cat or Dog Photos!
Forward Movement is accepting photo submissions for EpiscoCats and EpiscoPups – our 15-month, wall-hanging calendars. If your pet is chosen, you’ll receive a photo credit and 5 complimentary copies of the calendar. Click here for submission guidelines!
Claim Your Free Gift Now! Simply subscribe to our e-news by using the form below. You will then be able to download our "Ten Ways to Pray" ebook!
Be sure to confirm your preferences and check your email after subscribing. The link to your free gift is found in your "Welcome" email.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
