‘‘You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?’’ (Luke 5:34)

In today’s scripture, Jesus is asked by the scribes and pharisees why his disciples didn’t fast. In response, Jesus uses two analogies. First of the wedding feast and second the need for new wineskins. Jesus was making the point that he was doing a new thing and it’s time for a new response.

Everything he did when he walked the earth was new and different. The way he taught through parables, the way he related to sinners and women, the many healings – all of this signalled something new. And yet, time and time again, we see the scribes and pharisees lean into the old ways, the rules, and regulations. They knew the ‘right’ way of doing things, and here was this preacher flaunting the rules and not doing what he ‘should’ be doing (in their opinion!) and Jesus challenged that.

I wonder what it was like being with him, constantly being stretched to go beyond what you think is the ‘right’ way, and I wonder how I would have responded. The Lord knows I like order and structure and doing things the right way. Sometimes, I see myself leaning into what is known and comfortable even when I know Jesus is inviting me to a new way.

Today, I am praying for the grace to remember that when the Bridegroom is here – when Jesus is present and working in my life – this is the time to lean into the new thing. Sometimes the best response is to pull up a chair, pour myself a lovely glass of wine (or a beer, or coffee, or diet coke) and just enjoy being with the Bridegroom! His presence alone is worth celebrating!