To read the texts click here: Heb 5:1-10; Mk 2:18-22
The text of today is a
controversy story, and concerns one of the three important traditions of the
Jews: fasting, the other two being alms giving and prayer. The question of the
people compares the behaviour of Jesus’ disciples with that of John’s disciples
and the Pharisees. The latter fast whereas the disciples of Jesus do
not. The law required that people fast only on the Day of Atonement (Lev
16:1-34; 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11), though there were other reasons why a person
might fast including as a personal expression of sorrow or repentance (1 Kgs
21:27; 2 Samuel 3:35). The Pharisees were said to fast twice a week (Luke 18:12).
Since the people considered Jesus as a prophet or religious teacher, they would
have expected his disciples to fast as other sects did. In his response to the
people, Jesus clarifies that with his coming the new age has dawned, which is
an age of freedom. He does this first by using the analogy of the bridegroom,
and states that those who fast at the wedding are seriously insulting the host
or bridegroom. However, even though there is the element of celebration in the
analogy of the bridegroom, there is also a sombre note, which speaks of the
bridegroom being taken away, and seems to refer to the death of Jesus, which
will be an appropriate time to fast. The unshrunk cloth and the new wine refer
to this new age, whereas the old cloak and the old wine skins refer to the old
age. The two are incompatible. An attempt to patch an old garment using a new
or unshrunk cloth will result in a worse tear; just as to put new wine into old
skins will result in a great loss. The conclusion of the saying of Jesus
emphasises that the presence of Jesus brings newness and to understand him one
will need to give up the old categories that one has.
If we can talk of a rule or
regulation that Jesus gave his disciples, it would only be the rule of love.
All the actions of Jesus’ disciples must be motivated by love. This means that
one may or may not fast, but that one will always and every time only love.
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