First reading Amos 9:11-15
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel
It is the Lord who speaks:
‘That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David,
make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins
and rebuild it as it was in the days of old,
so that they can conquer the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that belonged to me.’
It is the Lord who speaks, and he will carry this out.
‘The days are coming now – it is the Lord who speaks –
when harvest will follow directly after ploughing,
the treading of grapes soon after sowing,
when the mountains will run with new wine
and the hills all flow with it.
I mean to restore the fortunes of my people Israel;
they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them,
plant vineyards and drink their wine,
dig gardens and eat their produce.
I will plant them in their own country,
never to be rooted up again
out of the land I have given them,
says the Lord, your God.’
Responsorial Psalm 84(85): 9,11-14
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
Gospel Matthew 9:14-17
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast
John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’
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The bridegroom is with us
In today’s gospel, John the Baptist’s disciples went to Jesus and wanted to know why Jesus did not insist that His disciples fast. Jesus answered them that His disciples did not need to fast. Instead, they feast because Jesus, the bridegroom, was with them. To follow Jesus as His disciples is to experience the profound joy that He brings. Today and each day, Jesus the bridegroom is with us. His presence with us is the cause of our joy and freedom. Are we aware of His presence with us, among us, in us?
“… new wine in fresh skins.” In Jesus’ time, wine was stored in wineskins. The gases from the fermenting new wine could cause the old wineskins to burst. Thus, new wine was needed to put into new wineskins that would be elastic enough to expand with the gases. Jesus is the new wine. He brings newness to our lives- a new way of looking at ourselves and others, a new way of loving God, a new way of working for justice and truth, etc. We can only truly live the newness that Jesus brings in renewed hearts.
Reflective question:
What is the message that I can draw from today’s prayer?
What is the message that I can draw from today’s prayer?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
