Comfort in Discomfort
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time, September 5th, 2025
The Gospel today begins with the Pharisees having noticed the disciples of Jesus acting differently than the rest; instead of fasting, they are eating and drinking. Right away, we can take away from this that as followers of Christ, we were made to be set apart. We were not made to live according to the norms that society around us has set; rather, we are called to leave all else behind in pursuit of our Lord. When others think of us, they should know we are Christians because of the love we show.
Jesus then points out that the wedding guests will not fast while the bridegroom is with them. The footnotes in the New American Bible point out a key fact: when Jesus is with them, it is a joyous time, so they will not be fasting (a sign of mourning), in such a happy time. We then hear the famous saying when Jesus says that we should not put new wine into old wineskins. When we follow Jesus, we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We need not be satisfied any longer with what the world has to offer us in our comfort. If we are to adhere to the ways of the Lord, we need to get comfortable with denying ourselves in pursuit of a transformed life. When others see the way our lives change, we can be a living testament to His love. The way we follow God does not just transform our own lives; it can greatly affect those around as well.