Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 2:18-22), Jesus proclaims that the bridegroom is among them. The bridegroom defines the bridge between the Old and New Testament. It marks the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The apostles are the guests of the wedding feast and Jesus says that they should be celebrating his life and not fasting. This is a time of joy. He warns his followers that his time with them is limited. We too should celebrate when Christ is with us. To walk with Christ brings about a new joy and elation in our life. As we feast on the Gospel, our soul is nourished with the joy of knowing Christ.

The disciple’s of John the Baptist complained that Jesus’ disciples were not fasting. Jesus tells them that they need to open their minds to change. “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.” Jesus is telling them that there is something new among them and that they must be willing to adopt new traditions. He tells them that it is time to accept change. This does not mean that we reject the old, but that we must accept the new. The wine represents our traditions. All the wine is valuable; not just the old or the new. Jesus tells them that there is a time to observe old traditions (the old wine skin) and a time to establish new ones (the new skins). He tells them that they should not be stuck in the past but to embrace what is at hand. We must have the old and the new. The Old Testament and the New Testament define who we are. We are not just the Old Testament nor are we just the New Testament, but the culmination of both. Jesus tells the disciples to celebrate because he is here. You will be able to fast when I’m gone.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to celebrate your life.

Fill me with your love and truth so I can feast today.

And help me prepare for the coming fast.

May I find joy is serving you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon