The disciples will fast when bridegroom is taken away

Gospel

Mark 2:18-22

'Why do your disciples not fast?'

One day when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they could not think of fasting. But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then, on that day, they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak; if he does, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins!’

Reflection

Jesus uses the image of a wedding celebration to explain why his disciples don't fast like others do. His presence marks something radically new—a time of joy and celebration, not mourning. The old religious practices, while they had their place, cannot simply contain or constrain what God is doing now. Like new wine needing fresh wineskins, Jesus brings a transformative grace that requires openness to change. He doesn't abolish the old ways but fulfills them in unexpected ways. This challenges us to examine whether we're clinging to familiar forms of faith that may no longer serve the new life God wants to pour into us.

Question for Reflection

Where in my life might I be trying to patch old patterns with new grace, rather than allowing God to do something genuinely new? What "old wineskins" of habit, expectation, or religious practice might need to be reconsidered so I can receive what God is offering today?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Bridegroom of our souls, help me to recognize your presence as cause for joy, not duty alone. Give me the wisdom to know when to hold fast to tradition and when to embrace the new thing you are doing. Make my heart flexible enough to contain the new wine of your grace, and keep me from confining your Spirit to the comfortable patterns of yesterday. May I feast in your presence and find true renewal in you. Amen.

Comments

Difficult for the rich to enter for God's kingdom

Gospel Matthew 19:23-30 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’ Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for ...

The kingdom of God is among us

Gospel Luke 17:20-25 The kingdom of God is among you Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’ Short Reflection In this passage, Jesus redirects a fundamental human and religious question: "When?" The Pharisees are looking for a timetable, a visible political or cosmic event. Jesus' answer is startling. He says the Kingdom of God is...

The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son

Gospel Matthew 1:18-23 How Jesus Christ came to be born This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ L Reflection God’s presence with us often comes in unexpected ways, inviting us...

Search This Blog