Friday, September 6, 2024

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

In France during November vintners open the first bottles of the year’s Beaujolais production.  People have been waiting to taste whether it was a fair, good, or excellent year.  The wine hasn’t aged enough to bring out its full flavor, but experts can recognize its promise.  Something akin is taking place in today’s gospel.

Jesus takes time to respond to the Pharisees’ legitimate question of why his disciples do not fast.  He explains that now is not the time to fast but to celebrate the arrival of the Messiah.  The implication is clear.  He is something new, something life-saving, something of great quality, not unlike excellent fresh Beaujolais.  In time faith in him will become old and appreciated even more, again not unlike the best vintage of Beaujolais.

Whether Christian faith is new to us, as it is to many converts, or something we grew up with, it brings peace to the heart.  It gives us definite reason to practice virtue.  With faith we can face even death with confidence.  As a psalm puts it, faith like good wine will make the heart glad.

No comments: