We do not usually pay very much attention to the responsorial psalm for Mass each day, but today’s psalm is extra special. These words from today’s psalm are very healing:
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
“I will hear what God proclaims;
the Lord –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.”
The first reading from the book of Amos is a lot different from yesterday’s reading for Mass. God was sending punishment upon His people because of their sins, but today’s readings are filled with words of peace, healing, and abundance. Actually, both of the readings today speak of new wine in a healing, positive way. We also sing a hymn at mass sometimes called, “Jesus Wine of Peace” that reflects today’s readings most beautifully.
The gospel today starts out with Jesus telling the disciples of John why his disciples were not fasting. The Pharisees and John’s disciples were required to fast and they wanted to know why Jesus’s disciples didn’t. The Pharisees were caught up in strictly obeying the rules and they expected all of God’s people to do the same. Their whole way of life reflected the fact that they had lost sight of what their faith in God was really all about. Love. God is love and we are called to love God and love one another. All they did was find fault with everything and was overly strict with everyone.
The Pharisees were all about “rules” which had very little to do with love. Christ came to change all of that. He even illustrates this new focus on love in today ‘s gospel, by the words he used when he called his disciples “wedding guests” and himself the “bridegroom”. His new covenant with God’s people would be one of love. The foundation of the church Jesus built was love. We are Christ’s bride, the church. Jesus loves us and cares for us, just like a groom loves his bride. We are in a sense married to him, and he is married to us, in a bond of love that will last forever. Love is the only thing that lasts, the only thing that endures into eternity. Christ’s love for his church is eternal. He will never stop loving us.
Jesus formed a new covenant through the bonds of love. When he gave his final act of love for his people and died for our sins, his disciples would “fast” then. They would grieve and fast out of love for him then. But, he indicated that just for today, let them have their enjoyment. Let them have some fun. Life is short and there was going to be plenty of grief in the future, but for right now, his disciples should enjoy life a little bit while they still could. Jesus knew the big picture, and the Pharisees did not.
The fresh wineskins of today’s gospel can be lived out in so many ways. Christianity itself was a fresh wineskin that Jesus poured into God’s people. The wine of love turned into a wellspring of joy. As we go about our own day today, let us do the same in maybe a smaller way. Let us look for joy and allow ourselves the freedom to experience a little joy today. Perhaps in a few quiet moments in the park on our lunch break, or to watch the sun go down this evening, or perhaps to have a little nicer dinner than usual tonight. Life is short and these precious moments can slip away from us so quickly.
Jesus really does want us to experience happiness in this life too. He stood up for his disciples’ right to a little happiness in life in today’s gospel, so he certainly wants us to be happy and enjoy life a little as well.
Live a little today! It might just give us a fresh, new attitude in our lives too. All work and no play is not good for anyone.
Daily Mass Readings:
Amos 9: 11-15 / Psalm 85 / Matthew 9: 14-17
