Jesus replied that wedding guests cannot fast

while the bridegroom is with them.

Comparing Himself to the bridegroom,

He explained that His presence was a time for celebration, not mourning.

He added that there will be a time when the bridegroom

is taken away, and then His disciples will fast.

The "bridegroom" represents Jesus Himself,

and the time he is "taken away" points to His crucifixion and ascension. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Amos 9:11-15

On that day,

I shall restore the fallen hut of David and wall up its breaches,

and raise its ruined walls; and so build it as in days of old.

They shall conquer the remnant of Edom, and the neighboring nations,

upon which my name has been called." Thus says Yahweh, the one who will do this.

Yahweh says also, "The days are coming when the plowman will overtake the reaper

and the treader of grapes overtake the sower.

 

The mountains shall drip sweet wine and all the hills shall melt.

I shall bring back the exiles of my people Israel;

they will rebuild the desolate cities and dwell in them.

They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will have orchards and eat their fruit.

I shall plant them in their own country and they shall never again

be rooted up from the land which I have given them," says Yahweh your God.

 

Ps 85:9ab, 10, 11-12, 13-14

The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 9:14-17

Then the disciples  of John came to him with the question,

"How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?"

Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to mourn

as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come,

when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then, they will fast.

 

No one patches an old coat with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for the patch will shrink

and tear an even bigger hole in the coat. In the same way,

you don't put new wine into old wine skins. If you do, the wine skins will burst

and the wine will be spilt. No, you put new wine into fresh skins; then both are preserved."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Let us lean into His presence.

Looking back on our past achievements can bring pride,

and it is essential to note that what we are now is the product of our years of hard work.

But we also know that life is a continuous process of transformation and growth.

When we examine the saying, "No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,"

 

we are reminded that to invite change and growth,

we must remain open to possibilities.

It is too easy to become victims of our previous successes,

but we can choose to go beyond them. In our spiritual journey,

we may be comforted that God is always with us. Let us lean into His presence,

perceiving and embracing His grace openly

and courageously as we navigate the ups and downs of life together.