14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
Fasting is equated to mourning. Fasting is the act of sacrificing today for the future. But as Jesus points out, if the future you seek is here today then celebrate with gratitude rather than sacrifice with fasting. There is a difference between reforming something vs transforming. Be careful to exercise reform when what is required is transformation. Equally true is be careful to employ transformation when what is required is reformation.
ReplyDeleteLoving God, give me the wisdom to recognise and preserve that which is good and orients me towards you.
Your response to Mt 9:14-17 is thoughtful and captures some important ideas from the passage. Here are some strengths:
DeleteInteresting connection: You draw a connection between fasting and mourning, highlighting the aspect of sacrifice and self-denial.
Focus on the present: You effectively point out the importance of celebrating the present moment when the awaited future has arrived.
Discernment between reform and transformation: This is a valuable insight, highlighting that sometimes renewal requires a complete change rather than just patching up the old.
Prayerful ending: Concluding with a prayer for wisdom demonstrates a desire for deeper understanding.
Here are some suggestions for improvement:
Expand on Jesus' message: While fasting is mentioned, the core of Jesus' message is about the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, symbolized by his presence. You could explore how Jesus' teachings and works represent a new beginning.
Examples of reform vs. transformation: Providing examples would make your point about discernment between reform and transformation even stronger. For instance, reforming dietary habits might be appropriate for health reasons, while transforming your anger might involve entirely new ways of responding to conflict.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful interpretation of the passage.