In general, we don’t like change. Change equals risk, and people tend to be risk averse. It comes from our basic survival instincts. When we lived in caves, change could mean not finding any food, or worse still, stumbling upon some wild animal and becoming their food. (Yikes!) We seem to equate change with being wrong. As a result, our inherent nature is to avoid change.

Jesus is the largest change agent the world has ever known. He challenged the people of His day to change, and they didn’t like it—not one bit. His admonitions to change from their old ways to a new way—a way based on love—made them very uncomfortable. His call to change continues to rumble through our lives, and it makes us just as uncomfortable as the people of His day. What is He calling you to change? Could it be to be more patient with your kids? How about showing more kindness to your former spouse? To live your Catholic faith more completely? Maybe a deeper trust in Him for your future? Whatever is most uncomfortable is likely the area He is nudging you to change the most. Wherever that is, He will not set you up to fail. You can bet He will shower His graces upon you to succeed. And that’s a risk well worth taking!

“Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” – Mark 2:22

Originally posted 2015-02-12 06:00:20.