02
Sep
Sep
Reflection: Luke 5: 33-39
The subject of food is often the subject of litigation. The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of being an eater and a drinker. He was accused of eating and drinking with tax collectors and public sinners. Sharing a table for meal was a sign of acquaintance and friendship. In today’s Gospel, they raise the issue of fasting. Fasting was seen as a symbol of religious superiority. They considered those who fasted as better or holier than the rest. That is why they compare the disciples of Jesus with the those of John the Baptist and of the pharisees. How could Jesus advocate his disciples not to follow these traditions on fasting? The new Kingdom that Jesus establishes is expressed in the symbolism of the wedding banquet where guests are gathered together not to mourn nor be sad, instead to celebrate and to share the joyful moments with the groom. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, all things are new, we cannot be tied to the outdated past that still asks us to be waiting. John the Baptist and his disciples for sure had a reason to fast – because John was anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Fasting was a way of preparation to receive him. The Jews have totally missed the point and demanded a continuation of the past traditions. Jesus wants to clarify with them that the Messiah that they have been waiting for is already here. The time of fasting and time of preparation have already passed. Now is the time to cherish every moment that we live in the presence of the Messiah just as the wedding guests cherish their moments of joy together with the bride groom. To follow Jesus is to accept him in his entirety. This means thinking like Jesus, showing the mercy of the Lord; feeling like Jesus to know the pains and emotions of people; loving like Jesus and forgiving even those who hate us, who do us harm; suffering like Jesus, willingly laying down our life for the life the other. There is nothing called partial belief or partial faith in Jesus. No patchwork is possible where we accept some portions of Jesus while we continue with our old ways of life. St. Paul would remind us to remove our old self completely and put on the new person of Christ. Since the source of joy is Jesus himself, the bridegroom at the wedding, this joy is the fruit of the Spirit. When we sit at the Lord’s table and drink the new wine of the New Covenant, we overflow with joy to be with this spouse, Jesus, who makes us so happy. We have received a call to be happy.