A change of liberation and joy

Good morning, happy Friday, and many blessings.

In today’s gospel (Luke 5:33-39) Jesus ran into a problem when He began His ministry almost 2000 years ago. At the very outset of what he was trying to do, he received criticism for trying to do things differently, for trying to change things. Time after time, the Jewish leaders and religious people of that day questioned Jesus, and even condemned Him, for trying to do something new. We see one of these incidents in todays’ story and Jesus responds to their questioning with a parable

They are saying, “Why do you do things differently, Jesus? Why are you rocking the boat? Why are you threatening the status quo? Why are you going against tradition and custom? Why don’t you and your disciples fast like everybody else?”

Earlier in Luke 5, the Pharisees have just gotten a little upset at Jesus for spending time with tax collectors and sinners. He was going to parties and taking his disciples with him. And then, worst of all, he was calling it ministry! And the Pharisees didn’t like it.  They didn’t think this was the way a “Godly man” should act. A Godly man never laughs. Never cracks a joke. I constantly hear these kinds of evaluations of my ministry from those within the church who proclaim themselves the moral guardians of God. That in the end what they have tried to do is kidnap God when God belongs to the people.

But Jesus did all these things. However, the only item they confront Him on here is his lack of fasting. You see, at that time, it was traditionally mandatory for all good Jews to fast. If you didn’t fast, others kind of looked down on you and said, “Oh, look at him. He’s not very holy.”  The Pharisees had fasting down to a science. They would fast every Monday and Thursday and would whiten their faces with ash so everyone could see that they were fasting. Of course, the fasting itself was somewhat hypocritical because the fast only lasted from sunrise to sunset, and they could eat as much as they wanted before and after the fast.

And you know what Jesus tells them? He says, “Hey, you’ve got it all wrong. You think that you’re not following God unless you’re miserable. I’m here to change all that. I’m here to show you that serving God can be a party. And I am the life of the party (Luke 5:34-35).

Jesus wants us to do things in a whole new way. Revelation 21:5 says that He will make all things new. As the Great Physician, He offers new life and new spiritual health. As the Bridegroom, He offers new love and joy. He makes us new creations and gives us a new spirit. And greatest of all, He gives us the new life of grace to live by. No more living under the bondage of the law. Now He offers the new life of celebration and joy. A new life of flexibility. Jesus is saying that you cannot reform religion; it has to be replaced with something new and better, which is the Gospel of Grace.

Jesus was eventually put to death for the changes he brought. But how grateful we can be for those changes because the new way is definitely better.

Blessings

Fr. Luis+