I saw an article about a Nashville Catholic school that indicated a Priest there, who was in charge, had the Harry Potter books removed from the library. He suggested that an exorcist had told him the spells used were copies of actual spells and incantations. My first thought when I saw it was “I played D&D and read R. A. Salvatore growing up, and I turned out O.K.” Then I began to think about the things I know now that I did not know then. Now if it’s true, if J.K. Rowling did her research and used actual spells and incantations for her books, then this is a dangerous thing spiritually isn’t it? I was still skeptical. Then I did something no one should ever do, and I journeyed to the comments section.
In this section, I saw Catholics condemning the Priest, declaring they would leave the Church if they weren’t allowed to read Harry Potter. I saw people using the “killing curse” toward the Priest, wishing him death. I also saw the usual gambit of anti-catholic rhetoric that I won’t speak or repeat here. All of this is troubling. What I find most disturbing is the first thought that a Catholic would consider giving up the Eucharist over a book. If what we believe about the Eucharist is true, how could any fictional book compare? Why would anyone choose to be in danger of the fires of Hell to cling to a book?
Today’s Gospel reminds us that we aren’t supposed to be the same anymore. Just as being in a relationship with my wife means I act differently toward other people, being in a relationship with God too means we are changed. We can’t be the old man, the old wineskin. We have to let God make us new! An old wineskin gets hard and brittle over time. It doesn’t flex as well. When you place new wine in there, it has to bubble and ferment. It puts off gas and swells. The old skin can’t handle it and will bust, letting the new wine pour out and will ruin it. The new skin though is supple and malleable. It flexes and bends as the new wine begins to form. It holds the wine in allowing it to become what it is meant to be.
Now the next statement of Jesus in this parable: “And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.'” If you don’t let go of the old life, the sin of the world, it will continue to hold its appeal. It will mix with the new and prevent the original from becoming what it could be. The old wine corrupts the new skin by never changing. Jesus came to renew us. At Baptism, the Holy Spirit changed us into fresh wineskins.
Am I saying that Harry Potter is sinful? I’m not sure. I do know if an exorcist warns against it I take note. What I do know is this: if the moment you hear of someone saying don’t read Harry Potter you begin to consider giving up the Eucharist? You already have old wine in you. Get to confession, remove that old wine, and receive Jesus in the Eucharist to fill your reserves up again. Then go forth realizing He is the greatest gift any Christian can have.