Newness of Christ!

Monday, January 19, 2026

1 Sam 15:16-23; Mk 2:18-22

Today’s Gospel highlights the newness that Christ brings about in our lives. 

In Jesus’ time, fasting was a well-established religious practice. The Pharisees fasted as a sign of devotion. John’s disciples fasted as a sign of preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Now, by asking Jesus, ‘Why do your disciples not fast?’ people want to know where Jesus and his disciples fit in. In a way, they are blaming Jesus and his disciples on two counts. At first, they question Jesus’ attitude towards the Jewish ceremonial law of fasting. Secondly, they call into question the piety and devotion of Jesus’ disciples towards the ceremonial law. 

While Jesus was already seen as someone who violated the Sabbath law, the question has tremendous significance as it contrasts the religiosity of the Pharisees and John’s disciples with Jesus and his disciples’ lack of fasting. 

Jesus responds to their question by establishing three facts about the newness he brings in.

1. To their question of ceremonial observance, by invoking the image of the bridegroom, Jesus shows that he is to be approached relationally rather than as a moral system. Any religious practice that does not lead to communion with Christ is futile. 

2. The bridegroom image is an invitation to joy. In the Old Testament, God Himself is the bridegroom (Is 54:5, 62:5). By invoking the image to refer to himself, Jesus signifies that God’s promise of fulfillment has arrived in him. The proper response to the bridegroom’s presence is joy. 

3. Pharisaic fasting was merely to fulfill a religious duty. The true meaning of fasting for repentance was abandoned by them. But by talking about the new garment and wineskin, Jesus enlightens them on the need to embrace newness through conversion of their hearts. If our religious observances fail to help us embrace Jesus, the newness, their purpose is lost. 

Jesus is not a mere addition or decoration in our lives. He is the point of our renewal. 

Let us pray that we may be transformed to embrace the newness of Christ.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar