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FOCUS VERSE: “Jesus replied, “You can’t make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you?" —Luke 5:34 (CEB)  

PRAYER OF PRESENCE:

God, whose love does not let us go,
In the stillness, we open our hearts to Your presence.
Draw near and center us in Your love and grace.
May You gentle light guide our thoughts,
Your peace calm our souls,
And Your Spirit move within us,
That we may reflect experience your peace and grace.
Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:33-39

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-k_i3FpwtE

All Things Are Possible To Him
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

  1. All things are possible to him
    That can in Jesus’ name believe;
    Lord, I no mote thy truth blaspheme,
    Thy truth I lovingly receive;
    I can, I do believe in thee;
    All things are possible to me.

  2. The most impossible of all
    Is that I e’er from sin should cease;
    Yet shall it be; I know it shall;
    Jesus, look to thy faithfulness!
    If nothing is too hard for thee,
    All things are possible to me.

  3. Though earth and Hell the word gainsay,
    The word of God can never fail;
    The Lamb shall take my sins away,
    ‘Tis certain, though impossible;
    The thing impossible shall be,
    All things are possible to me.

  4. When thou the work of faith hast wrought,
    I here shall in thine image shine,
    Nor sin in deed or word or thought;
    Let men exclaim and fiends repine,
    They cannot break the firm decree;
    All things are possible to me.

  5. Thy mouth, O Lord, to me hath sworn
    That I shall serve thee without fear,
    Shall find the pearl which others spurn,
    Holy and pure and perfect here;
    The servant as his Lord shall be;
    All things are possible to me.

  6. All things are possible to God,
    To Christ, the power of God in man,
    To me, when I am all renewed,
    When I in Christ am formed again,
    And witness, from all sin set free,
    All things are possible to me.

REFLECTION:

Some years ago, I was the celebrant for a wedding of a South Asian couple. Even as someone who grew up with the joy of Carnaval, the festivities for this wedding were a sight to behold. It was a vibrant celebration of love, family, and culture, with days of pre-wedding events. The bride’s hands and feet were adorned with intricate henna designs, blessings were imparted with turmeric paste, and the atmosphere buzzed with joy and anticipation. The bride wore ornate jewelry and stunning attire in brilliant colors, and the celebrations were filled with music, dancing, and feasting. The sheer energy and beauty of this wedding taught me something profound about what it means to celebrate fully and joyfully. It also gave me new insight into Jesus’ words in Luke 5:33-39.

In this passage, Jesus uses the imagery of a wedding feast to describe the joy and newness of the kingdom of God. When questioned about why His disciples do not fast like others, Jesus responds by pointing to the presence of the bridegroom. His point is clear: when the bridegroom is with you, it’s not a time for mourning or abstinence; it’s a time for joy and celebration. Just as a wedding is a time to revel in love and togetherness, the coming of the kingdom through Jesus is a reason to rejoice. Jesus is showing that His ministry marks the beginning of something new, something transformative that cannot fit into old frameworks or traditions.

The vibrant wedding I witnessed was not just a cultural event but a glimpse of the kind of joy Jesus describes. It was a reminder that when we encounter the newness of God’s kingdom, we are invited to embrace it with open hearts, letting go of old expectations and restrictions that no longer serve us. Jesus’ metaphor of new wine in old wineskins challenges us to consider whether we are truly open to the transformative work of God in our lives. Are we trying to contain God’s newness within old frameworks? Are we holding tightly to ways of thinking or being that cannot hold the explosive joy and grace of Christ?

The hymn “All Things Are Possible to Him” by Charles Wesley reinforces this message. It speaks to the transformative power of faith and the way God’s promises shatter the boundaries of what we think is possible. Wesley’s words echo the challenge Jesus presents: to believe in the newness God is offering and trust that all things are possible through Him. The hymn reminds us that even when transformation feels impossible—when the old wineskins of our lives feel too rigid to hold the new wine of the Spirit—God’s power can make all things new.

So today, let us reflect on the joy and newness that Christ brings. Let us be open to the work of God’s Spirit in our lives, even when it calls us to step beyond the familiar and embrace the impossible. And may we, like those celebrating at a wedding feast, respond to God’s invitation with joy, hope, and faith that “all things are possible.”

CLOSING PRAYER:

New every morning is your love, great God of light,
and all day long you are working for good in the world.
Stir up in us desire to serve you,
to live peacefully with our neighbors,
and to devote each day to your Son,
our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

— The United Methodist Hymnal (1989)

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 19 - 25 (Sun - Sat)

Petition: Asking For Needs and Desires in Prayer

Each day this week, take a moment to ask God for something that weighs on your heart and mind as you seek to engage life with the mind of Christ. It’s not always easy to focus on ourselves, and it may even feel selfish to ask for anything while being aware of the challenges others are facing—both around the world and next door. Yet, God chooses us, loves us, and invites us to ask freely and without hesitation. By faith, we trust that God not only hears and feels with us, but responds with the boundless love and grace that also abides within us. 

May you be filled with passion for whatever your heart desires and may that passion be fueled and inspired by God’s abiding love. Amen.
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