Mark 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."
The WORD
The Blessed Mother captivates by the beauty and youthfulness with which artists of different generations portray her. The great Michaelangelo of Florence was once asked by an admirer of his Pieta, which portrays Mary cuddling the body of her Son taken down from the cross: "Why is the Virgin so young?" The artist, though not a theologian, replied with a theologically sound statement: "One who is with God is always young!"
The Gospel tells us why being with God makes a person young always. First, amidst life’s challenges and turmoil, one with God will always finds security in Him. The Lord is all that matters. Hence, like children who feel safe within the reach of their parents, persons with God always find joy and comfort. God’s presence becomes a reason for celebration. Second, one with God will always have the courage to embrace adventure and newness. Changes, no matter how radical — whether these be internal ("wine") or external ("wineskins") — are most welcome.
Jesus’ presence among His disciples, like a wedding feast, is an experience of joy and comfort. It ushers in a new relationship of joy and love between God and His people. In this kind of relationship, there is no place for fear and despondency.
SOURCE: "365 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
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