Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 9,14-17

Then John's disciples came to him and said, 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?' Jesus replied, 'Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The disciples of John, who lived a harder life than the disciples of Jesus, question him directly about such a difference: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" John's disciples ask in order to understand. We should never be ashamed of asking for Jesus' help. The Master replies with the image of the coming of the bridegroom, and compares the disciples to the friends of the bridegroom who prepared and shared the nuptial celebration, that obviously must be a moment of great celebration. With Jesus the true "bridegroom" had come among men and women, the one who may ransom humanity from a condition of barrenness. The sense of life with Jesus is with the celebration dress, but Jesus admonishes that hard times will come. They will come for him; in this we find a reference to the Passion, as well as for the disciples and the communities. How not to think of the numerous persecutions which still today befall Jesus' disciples? Then, during the hard days, the disciples "will fast," Jesus adds. But first it is necessary to dress for the feast and drink the wine of mercy; this will make them strong for the difficult times. By mentioning old wineskins, Jesus is referring to the usual rigid frames of mind and religious schemas. Gospel love needs new hearts, free from prejudices in order to welcome the very love of God. Resistance to the novelty of the Word of God means to be closed to the Spirit. The Gospel of love frees us from enclosures and restraints in order to involve us with the large horizons of God.