Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 05, 2025

05th September 2025 (Friday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 R. (2b)

R/. Come before the Lord, singing for joy

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. I am the light of the world, says the Lord, whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Luke 5:33-39

At that time: The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Friday – 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Main Point: The presence of the Lord is the source of the greatest joy. Therefore, for us, the greatest suffering will be to be separated and be away from him

1. In the gospel, the context is the question of fasting: the Pharisees and the scribes question Jesus why his disciples do not fast but eat and drink, while those of John the Baptist and of the Pharisees do fast. Jesus readily seizes upon the opportunity and clarifies the true meaning and purpose of fasting and, in fact, the end of every spiritual practice.

2. He offers a simple image of the bridegroom and wedding guests. By no means, the wedding guests fast as long as the bridegroom is with them. In the same way, as long as he is with them, his disciples do not need fasting.

3. This does not mean that his disciples are exempt from fasting. This also in no way undervalues the merit and need of fasting. He is not doing away with the practice of fasting. It is wrong that some people conveniently misinterpret this text to diminish the value of fasting.

4. The purpose and intent of Jesus is simple and clear. He is our bridegroom. His presence is a source and cause of joy for us. We must rejoice with him in his company. We must celebrate our life with him.

5. Further, fasting and all such other acts of penance should be expressions of our sadness over separation from him at times. They must manifest our earnest desire to be in his company and thus also our anguish over any distance from him. Therefore, all our penitential practices must have this spiritual intent, which is to be closer to the Lord.

6. Jesus also offers another parable of old cloth and a new patch and an old wine-skin and new wine. Both attempts are a mismatch, and they will tear both the old cloth and the old wineskin. Thereby, Jesus intends that all our religious practices and spiritual obligations must not be patchworks or cover-ups.

7. We must throw away the entire old garment of sin and not simply put new patches of some religious action again and again. We must discard the old wine skin of our evil ways and not simply pour the new wine of grace and repentance and penance once in a while.

8. Piety and change should not be merely seasonal or occasional. They should not be limited only to a few acts. Rather, they should lead us to more intimacy with the Lord and the authenticity of the person. All our spiritual activities must be out of love for the Lord and lived in an authentic way. They must be joyful celebrations of the presence of the Lord and not forced burdens.

9. St Mother Teresa of Kolkata, whom we celebrate today, had this passionate love for God. This spiritual fervour was manifested in a joyful austerity and service to the suffering and the most deprived of human dignity.

My Practice: Pious devotions and religious practices should not make us sad or present us as joyless and depressed people. Rather, they should be celebrations of his presence, and also a means for regaining his lost presence