Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time, January 15, 2024

Gospel

Mk 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.

People came to Jesus and objected,

“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,

but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered them,

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

As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast on that day.

No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.

If he does, its fullness pulls away,

the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.

Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,

and both the wine and the skins are ruined.

Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

Reflection

I enjoyed reading this Gospel because of how Jesus answered the people’s question with different metaphors. They ask, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” and Jesus responds, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.”

I think this has multiple meanings. Jesus suggests that, just as it would be inappropriate for wedding guests to fast while celebrating with the bridegroom, His disciples are in a time of spiritual festivity and closeness to Him. I think He also alludes to His eventual death when describing how the bridegroom is taken away and they will fast on that day. This reminded me of how we as Catholics fast during Lent. We do this to prepare for Easter, to self-reflect through repentance and fasting which allows us to practice self-discipline and focus on our spiritual growth. Fasting can help us to recognize our own shortcomings and gives us more opportunities to rely on the Lord and grow closer to him.

In the second half of the Gospel Jesus continues with some different metaphors. Jesus says, “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse”. I think this tear could be understood as a metaphorical representation of internal conflict or resistance. I think it highlights the potential damage and ineffectiveness that can arise when individuals approach spiritual practices, such as fasting, with a closed heart and mind, or maybe doing it for the wrong reasons. Lastly Jesus says, “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins”. I think the meaning to this metaphor is similar to the previous one in that fasting undertaken with a closed heart or mind, is akin to pouring new wine into old wineskins. Just as the wine bursts the old skins, the potential benefits of fasting are lost when not embraced with a spirit of openness and willingness to listen to God’s Words. Instead, I believe the call is for individuals to approach spiritual practices, like fasting, with a readiness to learn, adapt, and allow ourselves to listen to God’s “living and effective word which is able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart”(Hebrews 4-12).