First Reading (1Cor 4:1-5)
Reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal. I do not even pass judgment on myself. I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted. The one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of the hearts. Then everyone will receive praise from God.
— The Word of the Lord.
— Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Luke 5:33-39)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time, the Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment to patch an old one; otherwise, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself standing in front of a mirror. Not just an ordinary mirror, but one that reflects not only your outward appearance but also the deepest recesses of your heart. What would you see? Who would the true “you” reflected in that mirror be? This image invites us to reflect on the central themes of today’s readings: judgment, authenticity, and the radical transformation that an encounter with Christ brings to our lives.
In the first reading, Saint Paul presents us with a profound perspective on judgment and self-assessment. He says, “It matters little to me that I should be judged by you or by any human tribunal. I do not even judge myself.” What a surprising statement! In a world obsessed with approval and recognition, where social media constantly invites us to compare ourselves to others, Paul offers us a radical liberation.
He continues, “I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” Paul is not promoting irresponsible indifference to the opinions of others or a lack of self-criticism. On the contrary, he invites us to a deeper and more balanced perspective.
How many times do we torture ourselves over what others think of us? How often do we allow the judgment of others, whether real or imagined, to shape our decisions and actions? And, perhaps more insidiously, how often are we our own harshest judges, tormenting ourselves with relentless self-criticism?
Paul reminds us that while introspection is important, we should not make it our prison. Our ultimate worth, our justification, does not come from the opinion of others or even from our own evaluation, but from the unconditional love of God.
He warns us: “Therefore, do not judge before the appointed time, wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will reveal the motives of the heart.” What a relief! We do not need to bear the impossible burden of perfectly judging ourselves or others. We can trust in the just and merciful judgment of God.
This message from Paul beautifully connects with today’s Gospel. Jesus is questioned about why his disciples do not fast like the Pharisees and the disciples of John. His response is both profound and revolutionary: “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then they will fast.”
Jesus is challenging a superficial and legalistic understanding of spirituality. He is not abolishing practices like fasting, but he is inviting his listeners to a deeper understanding of the purpose of these practices. Fasting, like any spiritual discipline, is not an end in itself but a means of drawing closer to God.
Christ presents himself as the bridegroom, and his presence brings a joy that transcends traditional religious practices. He is inaugurating a new era, a new way of relating to God that is characterized by intimacy and joy.
To further illustrate this point, Jesus uses the metaphors of the new patch on old cloth and new wine in old wineskins. These powerful images speak to us of the incompatibility between the old and the new, between a religiosity based solely on external rules and the new life in Christ.
The new patch on old cloth not only stands out, but it can tear the old fabric even more. Similarly, trying to fit the transformative life of Christ into old and rigid structures of thought and behavior can lead to rupture.
The new wine, fermenting and expanding, bursts the old and inflexible wineskins. The new life in Christ is dynamic, expansive, and transformative. It cannot be contained in old and rigid forms of religiosity.
So, what do these readings mean for us today? How can we apply these profound truths to our lives?
First, we are invited to be freed from excessive judgment—whether of others or ourselves. This does not mean we should not be responsible or strive to grow. It means we can rest in the assurance of God’s love and just judgment, freeing ourselves from the tyranny of others’ opinions and destructive self-criticism.
Second, we are called to examine our spirituality. Are our religious practices mere external habits, or are they authentic expressions of a living relationship with Christ? Are we open to the newness and joy that an encounter with Jesus brings, or are we trapped in old and inflexible ways of thinking and acting?
Third, we are challenged to be “new wineskins”—flexible, expandable, capable of holding the new and effervescent life that Christ offers. This might mean letting go of prejudices, rethinking traditions that have lost their meaning, and being open to new expressions of faith.
Fourth, we are invited to live in the joy of the presence of the “bridegroom.” While there are certainly times for practices like fasting and penance, our Christian life should be fundamentally characterized by the joy of the Gospel, by celebrating Christ’s presence in our lives.
Finally, we are called to be agents of transformation in our world. Just as new wine transforms the wineskins, our faith should transform us and, through us, transform our families, communities, and society.
My dear brothers and sisters, today we are invited to a journey of authenticity and transformation. A journey that frees us from the weight of excessive judgment and opens us to the newness of life in Christ.
Imagine what it would be like if each of us lived fully in this freedom and newness. If in every interaction, every decision, every moment of worship, we relied not on external expectations or empty traditions but on the living and transforming presence of Christ.
May we be like new wineskins, flexible and expansive, ready to receive and contain the abundant life that Christ offers. May we be authentic reflections of God’s love, not distorted by the fear of judgment or trapped in old and rigid forms.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, transforming you from glory to glory into the image of Christ. Amen.
