Today some of John’s disciples approach Jesus and ask: “Why do the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?”  Jesus said to them: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.”

Jesus then uses another metaphor to explain what He means.  He say: “No one patches an old cloak with new fabric; if they do so, the new fabric will pull away from the old cloak and the tear will get worse.”  Jesus gives them a third  analogy: “Nor do people put new wine in old wineskins.  If they do so, the old wineskins will burst and the wine will be lost.  Rather, they put new wine in new wineskins.”  New wineskins have elasticity and thus, they expand while the new wine is fermenting. 

Today’s Gospel may prompt to ask ourselves:  What areas of my life are working well?  Who and what bring me happiness, joy, and peace?   What in my life would I like to change?  What are the behaviours, attitudes, or choices that do not serve me well? 

Jesus longs for us to be happy. To an extent, what we choose may bring us happiness, peace, and contentment.  However, some of our choices may bring us unease or perhaps even unhappiness.  The difficulty is that no one else can choose for us or make it better for us.   Only we can choose what will bring us happiness, peace, and joy!  Jesus will walk with us and guide us if we invite Him to do so. 

Today pray to Jesus: “Jesus, show me the way to life.  Help me to make life-giving choices that daily will bring me happiness and joy.” Then pray for an open and listening heart!

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