First Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the Body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Reflection: Paul exalts Christ as the image of God, firstborn of creation, through whom all things were made and reconciled. As head of the Church, Christ holds all things together, achieving peace through His cross. This cosmic role underscores His preeminence, inviting believers to trust in His redemptive power and embrace His transformative work in creation.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5
Reflection: This psalm invites all to worship the Lord with joy, recognizing Him as Creator and shepherd. His enduring kindness and faithfulness call for thanksgiving and praise. Believers are urged to enter His presence with gratitude, acknowledging His goodness across generations, inspiring joyful service and devotion to God’s eternal love.
Alleluia: John 8:12
Reflection: Jesus declares Himself the light of the world, offering life to those who follow Him. This promise illuminates the Gospel’s message of newness, inviting believers to embrace His teachings, reject old ways, and walk in His light, trusting in His guidance for salvation and transformation.
Gospel: Luke 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
Reflection: The scribes and Pharisees question Jesus about His disciples’ lack of fasting. He responds with a parable, comparing Himself to a bridegroom whose presence brings joy, not fasting. His teachings, like new wine, require fresh wineskins, urging believers to embrace His transformative message, letting go of old traditions to follow His new way of salvation.
