Gospel of 4 September 2020
Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 5:33-39
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast
The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’
He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old.
‘And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good” he says.’
Reflexion
The Pharisees and the scribes today make a comparison between the disciples of St John the Baptist and those of our Lord’s, with the complain that the latter’s followers seem lax in their observance of the pious act of fasting. Two things are evident in their complaint, two things which seem relevant in our daily context.
The first is that of making comparisons. Comparisons do not help. In fact, they are divisive and only leads one to resentment, for such comparisons can make you feel inferior, or they can make you proud, when you feel superior to the other. We need to remember that each one of us is unique in the eyes of God and that God has a specific plan for each of us.
The second thing is complaining. Pope Francis from the start of his pontificate, constantly reminds us of how gossiping and complaining ruins communities and relationships. People who complain about others lack gratitude and appreciation for what they have received from God. Instead of complaining about the defects and shortcomings of others, wouldn’t it be better to help them improve or at least, pray for them?
Both comparing and complaining comes from a judgmental spirit and St Paul reminds us in the first reading; “There must be no premature passing of judgment. Leave that until the Lord comes; He will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts.” Instead of passing premature judgment on others, we should be preparing ourselves for the Last Judgment by making amendments to our lives and by abjuring sin and evil.
We fail to recognise that when the Bridegroom is present in our lives, an allusion to us being in a state of Grace - it is a time for celebration, a time for celebrating His Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.
But when the Bridegroom is absent, when we are in a state of sin, we should be doing penances, such as mortification, self-control and fasting; and not just fast from food and other material luxuries but also from the Blessed Sacrament.
Rather than looking at what my neighbour lacks, or make perfunctory changes which has little effect on our lives, let us honestly and humbly examine ourselves, repent of our half-hearted ways and strive to live as if the Bridegroom is always present. Let us renew our hearts and our lives, so that we may receive and welcome Him who is the New Wine, the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.