Readings: Genesis 27:1-5,15-29, Ps. 135:1-6, Matthew 9:14-17
“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15)
In today’s Gospel passage, the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why His disciples were not fasting. Jesus responded to this question with three parables: the parable of the wedding guests, the parable of the cloth and the parable of the wineskin. With the aid of these parables, Jesus revealed some profound truths.
a) Jesus Christ is the bridegroom, the church is the bride, and the wedding feast is the eternal banquet of heaven. The Book of Revelation throws more light on this. “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, ‘Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure’. For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 19:6-9). There was no need for the disciples to fast since Jesus (the bridegroom) was still with them in the flesh.
b) Jesus’ coming marks the beginning of a new dispensation. Jesus (the new cloth) did not come to repair the Jewish religion (the torn old cloth); He came to save all of humanity, thereby establishing an entirely new path to God. Just as it makes no sense to use a new cloth to patch an old one, it makes no sense to continue fasting following Jewish rites and customs. Jesus’ coming has given a new meaning to fasting. When we fast today, we are not doing it in anticipation of the Messiah; instead, we fast to deepen our communion with God.
c) Apart from giving a new meaning to fasting, Jesus also prescribes a new mode of fasting. While the Jews fasted openly to draw attention to themselves, Jesus proposed that our fasting (new wine) must now follow a different pattern (new wineskin). If we must fast, we must put oil on our heads so that no one will know we are fasting. This means that Jesus’s disciples may have been fasting, and John’s disciples assumed they weren’t. For Jesus, fasting openly like the Jews can be likened to putting new wine in old wineskins. When you do this, both the wine and the wineskin are destroyed. In other words, fasting to attract attention from people in this new dispensation is a waste of time.
Just as new wine can only be stored in new wineskins, we can only call ourselves Christians when we are born again. To be a Christian is to live a new life. As St. Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation, everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You cannot be new wine in an old wineskin. You cannot continue the practices and lifestyle of persons who do not believe in God’s existence while claiming to be a Christian. You cannot serve both God and mammon. If you assume you can pretend, one day your “skin” will burst, and the whole world will know the truth. Be a genuine Christian, a new wine in a new wineskin.
In today’s first reading, we saw how Jacob, through Rebekah’s assistance, tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing, which was intended for Esau (the first son). Isaac asked Esau to prepare a meal for him so he could eat it and give his final blessing. Rebekah prepared the meal and asked Jacob to take it to Isaac, wearing Esau’s clothes. We may argue about the morality of Jacob’s deception, but then the truth is that Esau had previously relinquished his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a pot of porridge.
This story teaches us that for generations, many have received untold blessings over a simple meal. For instance, Abraham was promised a son after the Angels he entertained had eaten to their fill. Jesus also converted tax collectors by sharing a meal with them. Even the Eucharist is a meal. There is always a blessing that goes with feeding the hungry or sharing a meal with others.
On the other hand, this story also teaches us to avoid the mistake of Esau. Be careful of what you say when you are hungry, angry, happy or in love. Do not give away something as precious as your birthright for a meal which can only last for a few hours. Words are powerful; you cannot take them back after uttering them. This is why Isaac could do nothing for Esau when he came back later.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, may the wine of your sweetness find a ready skin in my heart. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saturday of week 13 in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Genesis 27:1-5,15-29, Ps. 135:1-6, Matthew 9:14-17).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu