Word to the Wise
Monday, January 20, 2014 - Monday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 15:16-23 and Mark 2:18-22]The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
One way to draw attention to oneself is to "do things differently!" Regular fasting was not required by the Mosaic law, but it was commonly practiced by John's disciples (perhaps because of some connection with the asceticism of the Essenes) and by the Pharisees whom Jesus criticized because some of them did it to attract attention [Mt. 6:16-17] rather than as an act of religious devotion. Jesus' attitude toward fasting was to leave it to the individual but he did not require it of his disciples. Rather he hints that his disciples will have cause to fast as a sign of mourning when he is taken from them. Until then, he has something "new" to offer - a new wine for new wineskins!
Custom that has taken on the force of law ["We've always done it that way!"] needs continual discernment to determine if it still advances the greater good of preaching the gospel. Resistance created by custom ["We've never done it that way before!"] also calls for discernment. Jesus showed some exasperation with the Pharisees on this account [Mk. 7:13] when he accused them of "nullifying the word of God" by the way they enforced their customs. Both old and new wine require respectful discernment to determine if they are suitable for drinking. Jesus' "new wine" was being rejected simply because it wasn't the old! I think some of the criticism of Pope Francis is of that sort. I'm sure we can find other examples from our own experience. The challenge is to make room in our wine cellars for both the old and the new and handle both with respect! AMEN