Luke 5:33-39

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,

“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,

and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;

but yours eat and drink.”

Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast

while the bridegroom is with them?

But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

then they will fast in those days.”

And he also told them a parable.

“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.

Otherwise, he will tear the new

and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.

Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,

and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.

Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.

And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,

for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to taste and enjoy the new wine of salvation that your Son has brought. It is a wine that surpasses any earthly wine. It brings a joy that surpasses all earthly joy.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Friends of the Bridegroom: When the Pharisees asked Jesus about his disciples not fasting on certain days of the week, Jesus used the opportunity to reveal to them that he is the Bridegroom, the one for whom Israel awaits. Jesus pointed out that during a wedding feast, the wedding guests do not fast. This means that, in the days leading up to the Cross, Jesus’ disciples – the friends of the bridegroom – do not and will not fast. They accompany the bridegroom throughout his three years of public ministry and rejoice with him. The days will come, however, when the marriage between God and his people is accomplished on the Cross. The bridegroom will be taken away. He goes to prepare a place for his bride, the Church. On that day, Jesus’ disciples will fast and patiently and faithfully wait for the return of the bridegroom.

2. Old and New Wine: The meaning of the parable about the wine and wineskins tells us that Jesus the Bridegroom is doing something new. He is the New Moses, who gives a new law. He is the New David, who inaugurates the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the Messiah who brings the new wine, the wine of everlasting joy. The old wineskins cannot contain the new wine of Jesus’ blood. The blood and sacrifices of the Old Covenant (the old wine) were ineffective and were only a sign that looked forward to the efficacious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The old wine, just like the first wine at Cana, is good; but the new wine, just like the second wine at Cana, is better. Jesus is inviting the Pharisees, who have been drinking the old wine, to open themselves up to the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in his person and partake of the new wine in new wineskins that he brings.

3. Stewards of the Mysteries of God: The Apostles, the servants of Christ, have been entrusted with the new wine of the Messiah. They are stewards and ministers of the mysteries of God and the Sacraments of Christ. They are called to serve and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul says today that, as a servant of Christ, he does not fear the judgment of any human tribunal. He knows that he is working for Jesus Christ his savior. He knows that he is both a chosen vessel and a fragile vessel who bears the mysteries of God. Paul knows that he will be judged by Jesus his Lord at the appointed time. This judgment reveals and manifests what we have in our heart. We strive each day to fill our hearts with the holy things of God and to remove whatever keeps us from God’s love. We ask that God help us to turn from evil, trust in the Lord, and do good. God, we pray in the Psalm, is our refuge from evil and the true delight of our heart. The wine that Christ brings, the blood of the new and eternal Covenant, gives joy to the heart and is our foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, in the gift of the Eucharist, I partake of the new wine of salvation and joy. Help me to appreciate this great gift and bring others to share in it.

Living the Word of God: Do I truly live with joy knowing that Jesus has brought salvation to the world? Do I communicate this joy – which is the fruit of charity – to others?