JOIN USIt often happens that we are in a quandary whether we should try to patch up the leaking roof or completely replace it or recast the crooked iron rod after smelting it and removing any impurities. While this could go well with material things, we ask whether the same things hold good when something goes wrong with our life, with interpersonal relationships etc. We find that often patchwork does not help and does not last long.
What is very much needed is a new heart and a new mind. This is what New Testament calls in Greek a "metanoia", a complete turning around, a new path, a new way or at least a new attitude. This is why Jesus advocating a new way a new attitude says: "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. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins." (Mark 2.21-22).
Again it is not easy to give up our old habits, old attitudes to take on something new. But the wise man is not a stick-in-the mud; on the contrary he is ready to change and be changed. What is important for him is the good that can be achieved for the benefit of as many as possible. Even in business concerns it is better to be on the look out for new ways instead of sticking on to beaten paths. Sometimes you need to take risk as Koheleth says: "Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back" (Ecclesiastes 11.1). If you were to fear all sorts of dangers you may just sit and do nothing. You wallow in the same mud or get stuck in the rut and keep going round in circles. You need to try new things. If one door closes, God would open another and even a door better than the previous door. So friend be up and doing. Do not get discouraged and say: it is useless or I will just try to manage for the time being, a temporary solution to bide the time or keep the wolf from the door. Try out boldly with God's help what has to be done and take risks where risks have to be taken.
Some think that Catholic faith makes them to be archaic. Nothing can be further from the truth. They say in Latin "vita est in motu " meaning life is constantly in movement, meaning we keep moving forward and not stay put and begin to decay. So have a vision and hope for the best at all times. Even if the whole world happens to stand against you, it does not matter you are still standing and the Lord is with you to support and sustain you. Such a hope gives you the courage to face anything. Smile friend it is not the end of everything.