Friday XXII Ordinary Time
Col 1:15-20
Ps 100:1b-2,3,4,5
Lk 5:33-39
Rejoice in the Lord
Brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, two important events happened on this day: Firstly, Together with the whole Catholic Church, we remember St. Gregory the Great. This saint is known as one of the Fathers of the Catholic Church (Latin Church), include Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome. Since we are still in the National Bible Month, I would like to quote the words of St. Gregory the Great: “The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it, we see our inner face. From the Scriptures, we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.” St. Gregory the Great served the Church as Pope for 14 years. He dedicated himself to serve the poor and the weak, especially the slaves from England. During his pontificate, he also manifested himself as a humble man and referred to himself as the ‘Servant of the servants of God’ (Servus Servorum Dei). Secondly, We celebrate the first Friday in September. We remember the figure of Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself, by dying on the cross. The first Friday is a celebration of Christ’s infinite love for humanity.
The Lord Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel reading received a visit from special guests, namely the Pharisees and the scribes. They are a group of legalists who like to notice the weaknesses of others and forget that they are also weak people. They said to Jesus, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples eat and drink.” The Lord Jesus corrected their narrow thinking by saying: “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (Luke 5:34-35). Jesus’ answer is very meaningful. He is the true bride and we as the Church are the friends of the bride. Stay with Jesus means we stay with joy even though there is also much suffering.
So the question is which comes first, fasting or feasting? The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus’ disciples because they did not fast. Fasting was one of the three most important religious duties, along with prayer and almsgiving. Jesus gave a simple explanation. There’s a time for fasting and a time for feasting (or celebrating). To walk as a disciple with Jesus is to experience whole new happiness of relationship akin to the joy of the wedding party when celebrating with the bride and groom. But there also comes a time when the Lord’s disciples must bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the disciple, there is both a time to rejoice in the Lord’s presence and celebrate his goodness as well as a time to seek the Lord with humility, fast and to mourn over sin.
Jesus also told the other parable regarding new and old wine. The “new wine” spoken of in this parable is the grace poured forth from the Cross. Remember that blood and water sprung forth from His side as He hung upon the Cross. This has been symbolically understood as the grace and mercy given to us from the Cross, which is transmitted today through the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism transforms us into a new creation, and, as a new creation in Christ, we must desire the new wine of the Most Holy Eucharist to be daily transformed by our Lord. We remember this moment on this first Friday.
Many Church Fathers pointed out that the “old wine” that many prefer is referencing those who wanted to continue living according to the old law. This is especially true of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus was speaking this parable. Jesus was bringing them new teachings and preparing them for a new grace. But they rejected it, preferring their old lifestyle.
Who is Jesus the bride who makes us rejoice? St. Paul says that God is invisible. Christ is His image. Christ is the first of all creation. Everything was created in Christ. All the fullness of God pleases to dwell in Christ. Christ alone is our peace and only through Him, God reconciled all things. Saint Paul asserts that all things are appeased by the blood of Christ crucified.
Today, let us try to act as friends of the bride and groom, friends of Jesus. We are Jesus’ travelling companions! Let us show the face of Christ to others.
Fr. John Laba, SDB