In the first reading, St Paul reminds the Corinthians not to pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purpose of our hearts. In today’s Gospel Jesus confronts the Pharisees with the question about “fast”. Jesus says to them: “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them… days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast in those days”. Perhaps in our times, the word fasting from certain food, like in the old times and as the Pharisees are talking, has no meaning at all. Nowadays, we don’t fast: moreover, we do have fast-foods everywhere. If not for food however, we have other things to fast from. Namely, our arrogance, indifferences, shortcomings and so on. Jesus is reprimanding the Pharisees above all for their hypocrisy and in their continuous opposition for closing their eyes and hearts, for not discerning what is good and acceptable. Continuing to be obstinate in their own old ideas with little conversion of heart, they were unable to open up, In fact, Jesus tells them again a parable of new wine and old wineskins.
The image of old and new wine and wineskins, and patching old cloaks with new material, is meant to help us conform to Christ. He initiated a new Covenant that brought salvation to all people and in so doing gives us the choice to accept a life that is new or else be satisfied with the old. There is newness of life in Christ.
In the end, the Lord who probes the hearts and minds of us all, invites us to turn away from our sins, and open to the Good News brought by Christ the Savior. We pray that God’s new gifts and renewed graces may always find room in us. Amen.