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Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Friday September 6, 2024

Daily Mass Readings for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.

  • First Reading (Cycle 1) - Colossians 1:15-20: Christ Jesus, as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation, is the creator and sustainer of all things, holding everything together and reconciling all things through His death on the cross.
  • First Reading (Cycle 2) - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5: Paul emphasizes the role of stewards of God's mysteries, urging humility and caution in passing judgment on others, as the ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord who examines the hearts and motives of individuals.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 100: Come with joy into the presence of the Lord, serving Him with gladness and singing joyful songs, for we belong to Him as His people, and we enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 37: Trust in the LORD, doing good and finding security in the land; delight in Him and He will fulfill the desires of your heart, for the salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
  • Gospel - Luke 5:33-39: Jesus responds to the question of why His disciples do not fast like the disciples of John or the Pharisees by using the analogy of wedding feasting. He explains that just as it is inappropriate to fast during a wedding celebration, His disciples have reason to rejoice in His presence, but the time will come when they will fast, signifying a shift in understanding and the need to embrace the new covenant He brings.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

  • Fasting and Feasting: This part discusses contrasting practices between the Pharisees and Jesus' disciples. It highlights the idea that the time with Jesus is not for mourning but for celebration.
  • Old and New: The passage talks about not mixing the old ways with the new ways Jesus is introducing. This theme suggests the coming of new teachings and practices that shouldn't be blended with the old.
  • Rituals and Purpose: It points out that rituals like fasting are not ends in themselves. Instead, they have a purpose and should fit the context, a view that challenges the Pharisees' approach.
  • Change Resistance: The passage mentions that people who are accustomed to the old ways may find it difficult to accept the new. This theme touches on the human resistance to change.
  • Time-Specific Actions: The scripture suggests that there's a right time for certain practices. Jesus indicates that his presence changes the expected norms, pointing out the temporality of rituals.

Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.

Luke 5:34-35

Reflection for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary time, Luke 5:33-39, we see the Pharisees questioning Jesus about why his disciples don't fast like those of John the Baptist. Jesus responds by likening himself to a bridegroom, stating that people don't fast while celebrating a wedding. This passage challenges the rigidity of religious traditions and opens the door to new ways of connecting with God.

For modern Catholics, this could be a reminder to question our own routines and practices. It's easy to go through the motions without understanding the intent behind religious traditions. But the point is not just to tick off a checkbox; it's about having a meaningful relationship with God.

Additionally, Jesus' analogy about putting new wine into old wineskins is quite instructive. If you pour new wine into an old, brittle container, it'll burst. This is a cautionary tale about being open to new understandings and approaches, especially when old ones may no longer serve us well.

The story is relevant today given the ongoing debates within the Church about tradition versus modernity. While tradition has its place, this passage tells us that rigidity in our practices might make us miss new opportunities to experience faith in meaningful ways.

In everyday life, this scripture encourages us to be flexible and thoughtful in our faith journey. The essence is not in blind ritual, but in a living, adaptive relationship with God that can stand the test of new challenges and new understandings.

Sometimes we don't seem too joyful at church. There is Jesus Christ himself, present in the Eucharist, and we seem bored. The bridegroom is with us! Let us celebrate.

Prayer for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Lord, keep me aware of what a gift you are! Help me to live my faith joyfully, always aware that you are present in my life. Amen.

Homilies and Reflections for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Word On Fire: The Joy of Divine Union

In this reflection for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron explores the Gospel passage where Jesus is questioned about fasting. Jesus responds with the metaphor of a wedding feast, highlighting the joy and exuberance that define the Christian experience. Barron emphasizes that in Jesus, a unique union between divinity and humanity occurs, much like the coming together of bride and groom. This union negates the need for fasting and replaces it with a celebration of divine-human intimacy. According to Barron, the Christian dispensation is marked not by austerity, but by joy, as God and the world have come together.

USCCB Reflection: Old and New Fasting

This USCCB video reflection for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time discusses the evolution of fasting rules in the Catholic Church, noting how they were much stricter before the early 1970s. It then explores the current approach, emphasizing that while the rules may have changed, the spiritual importance of fasting and penance remains the same.

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