Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 bridegroom
1. Fasting. Many people reduce religion to following rules and simply doing what’s required. For some, religious life is nothing more than a checklist or a routine obligation. Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary that what truly matters is having faith in the Sacred Heart—believing in Him is essential. His love and goodness are offered to everyone. The most important thing is to believe in Him; to trust in Him and know you are loved by Him. However, if you turn religion into just “ticking boxes,” your life becomes focused on monitoring others instead of loving them. There’s nothing more disappointing than encountering “Christian police” instead of Christians who are passionate about God.
2. Friends. Our relationship with Christ is meant to be one of friendship and closeness. Never lose sight of the fact that faith is about relationship. Walking with Christ should be personal and dynamic, not rigid or distant. Keep seeking that connection and remember: the deeper you immerse yourself in Him, the more profoundly you’ll experience God’s grace.
3. The new. It’s important to embrace newness and face the challenges of today. Don’t get stuck living in the past or clinging to old memories. While letting go can be difficult at first, learning to look ahead and to welcome what’s new brings greater freedom and peace. For example, my parents were attached to their large house because of all the memories it held, and it was hard for them to leave. But now that my mom is in a smaller place, she feels much happier. Moving on was difficult, but we realized it was necessary for her well-being. Step forward and release anything that no longer helps you live fully today. It might have served you before, but maybe it doesn’t anymore. In life, everything has an expiration date—except for Life itself, which is Christ.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
