Saturday, July 04, 2020 - Thirteenth week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9, 14-17 - My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Some of John's disciples asked Jesus questions, and at the same time were critical, about the fact that his disciples were not fasting. Jesus answered clearly that the time when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast.

The Bridegroom He wants to talk about is none other than Himself, Jesus. As long as He is with us, our lives should always be filled with joy. We need to share joy with Him, so there is no need to fast. For example, at Christmas, celebrating His coming on earth, the Church exhorts us to celebrate it with joy. However, there is a day when the Bridegroom is taken from us, Good Friday. That is why the Church encourages us to fast. There is a time to rejoice, and a time to fast. All this, to express the love for God is for our neighbor, and not only to keep the commandment.

Jesus Christ came to change our hearts into new hearts. It is especially for this purpose that He wants to come by mentioning the new wine in a new wineskin. The new expresses our love for God, and the old refers to our attachment to the old commandment. So let us fast out of love and not just out of simple observance.