FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to LK 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

REFLECTION

“Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

When my dad's best friend would come over for dinner, all were happy to see "Tio (Uncle) Poncho". He brought presents and there would be so many delicacies on the dining table. Though we did not eat these foods on a regular basis, when he was around the feasting began.

Imagine being around Jesus: cooking, eating, laughing and having discourses at the table. Remember Martha and Mary and their household? Imagine Jesus waiting on you as He promised many times. He would have us recline at table and He would wait on us. And we would feast without any need of having to fast or go hungry. Because He was present.

How can one not be joyous in the presence of the Lord? How can one say "No" when He gives us His love and wants us to love Him back?

Today, do we fast or feast? We fast to deny ourselves and empty ourselves of all material things and fill ourselves with the Word of God, the Mass and Adoration. Jesus daily gives us His Word, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist and waits for us to open the door and walk in to the Adoration Chapel. The feast of graces abound for us and His Holy Church. We just need to say, "Here I am".

God Bless You