First reading 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
The Lord alone is our judge
People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worthy of his trust. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me whether you, or indeed any human tribunal, find me worthy or not. I will not even pass judgement on myself. True, my conscience does not reproach me at all, but that does not prove that I am acquitted: the Lord alone is my judge. There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.
Responsorial Psalm 36(37):3-6,27-28,39-40
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire.
Commit your life to the Lord,
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
your cause like the noon-day sun.
Then turn away from evil and do good
and you shall have a home for ever;
for the Lord loves justice
and will never forsake his friends.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,
their stronghold in time of distress.
The Lord helps them and delivers them
and saves them: for their refuge is in him.
Gospel Luke 5:33-39
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast
The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’
He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old.
‘And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good” he says.’
Openness To God’s Presence
St Paul in the first reading wrote, “People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God.” We are reminded that we are stewards of God’s message; this is our identity. However, we often act as judges, forming conclusions about others’ choices and weaknesses, but only God knows what is in each person’s heart. St Paul reminds us to avoid judging based on appearances. Let us ask for the grace to be humble and approach each individual with compassion and understanding.
In the Gospel, the religious leaders questioned Jesus about His disciples not fasting. Jesus answered that His presence is like a bridegroom bringing joy, and therefore it is not a time for the wedding guests to fast. In Jesus, God has lovingly come close to His people. His disciples were to rejoice in the gift of being with Him. Jesus spoke about the need for new wineskins for new wine, reminding us to remain open to the new things that God is doing. May we never allow fear or our attachment to familiar routines to prevent God from bringing newness, renewal and transformation in our hearts.
Reflective question:
What is holding me back from letting God work in my life for my own good?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
