We should not be afraid to renew the "ancient, passing structures" of the Church, following the Holy Spirit, like in the past. In today's Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis touched one of the most pressing issues of his pontificate, namely the reorganization of the Church's "structures"
Inspired by Jesus's idea of "New wine in new wineskins", Francis focused on the renewal that Jesus brings, Vatican Radio reported. "The doctrine of the law," the Pontiff noted, "is enriched, renewed with Jesus," who delivered "true renewal of the law, the same law, but more mature, renewed." What Jesus requires of us is greater than the requirements of the law. The law allows us to hate our enemy; Jesus, on the other hand, tells us to pray for him. This is then "the Kingdom of God that Jesus preaches," a renewal that is above all "in our heart."
The Gospel's newness lies in its newness "but within the same law that comes in the history of Salvation." And this newness, he said, "goes beyond us," it renews us and "renews the structures." This is why Jesus says that new wineskins are necessary for new wine:
"In Christian life, even in the life of the Church, there are old structures, passing structures. It is necessary to renew them! And the Church has always been attentive to this, with dialogue with cultures . . . It always allows itself to be renewed according to places, times, and persons" it encounters. "The Church has always done this!"
"From the very first moment, we remember the first theological battle. Was it necessary to carry out all of the Jewish practices in order to be Christian? No! They said no! The gentiles could enter as they are, as gentiles . . . by entering into the Church and receiving the baptism." This was the "first renewal of the structures. . . .
