The “new wine” of the Cistercian Reform was wisely placed in the new wineskin of Cîteaux—the so-called “New Monastery.” However, eventually this new wineskin itself became old and subsequent reforms were needed to create new wineskins for new generations of monks and nuns fired by that same early spirit and vision. In our own lives, moments of deep conversion and breakthroughs form the new wineskins wherein is poured the new wine of the transforming Spirit. Sustaining this grace-filled conversion is typically a challenge and in succumbing to acedia and the weariness of the journey, our new wineskins become old. Through the grace of this Eucharist, may we never give up or convince ourselves that the old wine of our still incomplete selves is somehow better than the new wine of God’s life offered in its fullness to those who repeatedly offer him the new wineskin of an open and surrendered heart.
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