The transition to 2006 has ushered Trinidad and Tobago into the new realities of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. New possibilities, new challenges. A time for change.

In the gospel today, Jesus introduces the people to one of the fundamental elements of his message. With his incarnation, the whole cosmos, symbolised by the garment/cloak, enters into a new era, symbolised by the wine of the Spirit.

One of the teachings which gave greatest difficulty to the religious leaders of his time, was the notion that he replaced the temple in Jerusalem . The coming of Jesus put an end to the legalism of the Pharisees. New wine, fresh skins . . . The old teachings are now to be applied in new, more complete ways.

It is alleged that in the “real” world, the only constant is change. New realities are the stuff of our lives. What is your new reality? Have you been blessed with a new member in your family? Have you lost a loved one? Have you been recently married? Or have you been separated/divorced from your spouse? Have you begun to attend school or university?

Have you recently left school? Entered the world of work? Lost your job? Retired? Migrated? Moved or built a new house? Have you begun to discern a new call on your life to marriage, the single life, the religious life?

No longer as physically/socially/economically independent as you used to be? Have you discerned in yourself a desire for a slower, quieter lifestyle? Are you preparing for a major milestone in your life?

For each of us new wine events or circumstances can be overwhelming if we choose to journey alone through them, or they can be grace-filled experiences if we choose instead to journey with the bridegroom .

As long as the bridegroom is with us, life is a celebration, no matter what the circumstances. It is the bridegroom who will lure us, lead us, speak to us and betroth us with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love , for He is compassion and love. He who makes all things new, makes the kingdom of God present to us.

As the nation celebrates the Carnival season, the gospel speaks to our culture. The use of wineskins is popular at this time as revellers stock up on their favourite vintages. In most cases, these wineskins are used from year to year, but at every Carnival season, “ new wineskins ” emerge.

Every year, there is a group of young people who are experiencing adult freedom to celebrate the festivities for the first time. They are now free to attend Carnival functions unsupervised – free to come and go as they please.

The question is, what “vintage” will they choose to dispense? Will it be the wine of the Holy Spirit - the wine of integrity, self-control, peace, kindness and gentleness?

Just as Jesus preached a new covenant , so too, our new wineskins must embrace new social, economic and political realities. Many different voices clamour for their attention, and the many personal options available to them today, must make life very challenging.

Undoubtedly, the best option lies in celebrating with the bridegroom , everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. (Phil 4:8)

The enduring mission of those who try to nurture our new wineskins is that of affirming them as they struggle with responsible freedom; with the creation of worthwhile goals; with developing an accurate identity/self-concept; and with staying focussed, as they discern and avoid distractions.

The privilege of the caregiver is that of enabling the young to come to know who they really are, and so to celebrate life fully, positively and with integrity.

As a people, we too, need to come to a much fuller appreciation of who we really are – God's people. A community, which can transform oil drums into a steel orchestra, has only just begun to explore its potential for creativity!

HAVE A HAPPY CARNIVAL!

God of our joy, we thank you for seasons of celebration when we drink deeply of your gifts of laughter, fellowship and fun.

We thank you for the many aspects of our Carnival celebrations that reflect your beauty, and for the unique talents that you have blessed us with.

Forgive our excesses Lord, and help our young people especially, to make wise choices at this time.

Continue to bless this land which bears your name, and teach us how to be food and drink for one another, now and always. Amen.

Kenneth and Bernadette Phillips are catechists in St Joseph 's parish, Scarborough.