“Jesus answered 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.’” Matthew 9:15
I was a brand-new teacher right out of college teaching at a Catholic high school. I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. Yet in my school setting, one of the veteran educators recognized my earnestness and this person went out of their way to welcome me into the new community. One night, this person took me and two other rookie teachers out to dinner to a fancy restaurant; a place I certainly could not afford on my starting salary. This mentor went out of his way to remind us on that night that nothing on the menu was off-limits. He simply shared that one day we would do the same for another person new to the teaching field.
In today’s Gospel, we read Jesus’ reply to John’s disciples that it is near impossible to mourn while the bridegroom (Jesus) is with them. Jesus desires for his disciples to draw near to him and in first Century Israel, the most desirable way to do this was through a fellowship meal. The invitation for that fellowship meal is now extended to us: Jesus’ 21st century disciples. May we realize, like I did as a brand-new teacher, that the bill has been paid.
In this Season of Lent, will your spiritual disciplines draw you closer to Jesus Christ?
May we all realize, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that the Bridegroom is forever with us!
Today’s Reflection is by:
Andy Shannon
Did you know...
Andy Shannon is the Director of Campus Ministry @ Clearwater Central Catholic High School. 25 of his 32 years of ministry in Catholic schools has been spent in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Andy is married and his two children are 21 and 17. A product of Diocesan Catholic schools, Andy has a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He is a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.
