The Joy That Cannot Be Taken Away
Reflection on Matthew 9:14-15
In the Gospel of Matthew 9:14–15, the disciples of John approach Jesus with a sincere question: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” It is a question about religious practice, about discipline, about sacrifice. Fasting was a sign of repentance and longing for God. It was an expression of hunger for something greater than bread.
Jesus responds with an image both simple and profound: “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.”
With these words, Jesus reveals something beautiful about Himself. He calls Himself the Bridegroom.
In Scripture, God’s relationship with His people is often described as a marriage covenant. Israel is the bride; God is the faithful spouse. By calling Himself the Bridegroom, Jesus is declaring that God’s long-awaited union with His people is happening in Him. The Messiah is not merely a teacher of rules. He is the One who comes to claim His bride with love.
A wedding is not a time for mourning. It is a time for celebration, joy, and communion. The presence of the Bridegroom changes everything. The disciples were not neglecting prayer or devotion. They were living in the joy of being with Christ Himself.
This Gospel invites us to reflect on the heart behind our spiritual practices. Fasting, prayer, and sacrifice are beautiful and necessary in the Christian life. The Church, especially during seasons like Lent, calls us to fast and to discipline ourselves. Yet these practices are not empty rituals. They are expressions of love.
The Pharisees fasted as an obligation. John’s disciples fasted in expectation. But the disciples of Jesus stood face to face with fulfillment.
At times, our faith can become heavy. We can reduce it to a checklist: attend Mass, say prayers, avoid sin, fulfill obligations. These are important. But Christianity is first about relationship. It is about the presence of Christ in our lives.
Jesus teaches that there is a time to feast and a time to fast. While He walked physically among His disciples, it was fitting to rejoice. After His Passion and Ascension, fasting would take on new meaning. It would become a longing for His return and a participation in His suffering.
Today, we live in that sacred tension. Christ has risen and is truly present in the Eucharist, yet we still await His glorious return. Our fasting, sacrifices, and acts of penance unite us to the Bridegroom who was “taken away” on the Cross. Our joy flows from knowing He conquered death.
This Gospel challenges us to examine our interior attitude. Do we practice our faith with resentment or with love? Do we fast only because we must, or because we long for deeper union with Christ? Do we see Jesus as distant, or as the Bridegroom who delights in His bride?
There is also a personal dimension. Each soul is called into intimate communion with Christ. The Church is the Bride, but so too is every baptized believer invited into this covenant of love. Our prayer is not a performance; it is a conversation. Our fasting is not self-punishment; it is making space in our hearts for the One who fulfills us.
Joy is not the absence of sacrifice. True joy is the presence of the Bridegroom. Even in sorrow, even in fasting, the Christian heart carries hope because it belongs to Him.
In moments of dryness, confusion, or suffering, we may feel as though the Bridegroom is far away. Yet He remains near—in the Word, in the Eucharist, in the Church, in the poor, in the quiet of our hearts. The invitation is not merely to observe religious practices, but to live in relationship.
The Gospel reminds us that Christianity is ultimately a love story. It is the story of a God who comes to seek His beloved, who gives His life for her, and who promises eternal union.
May our fasting deepen our hunger for Him. May our feasting celebrate His presence. And may our lives reflect the joy of belonging to the Bridegroom.
Key Takeaway:
Christian discipline only makes sense in the light of love; our fasting and sacrifices are meaningful because we belong to Christ, the Bridegroom who brings lasting joy.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, our Divine Bridegroom,
You have called us into a covenant of love.
Teach us to live our faith not as a burden,
but as a joyful response to Your presence.
Purify our hearts in times of fasting,
and fill us with gratitude in times of celebration.
Help us to long for You more deeply each day
and to recognize You in the Eucharist and in our daily lives.
May our sacrifices draw us closer to You,
and may our joy witness to Your love in the world.
Stay with us, Lord, and keep us faithful
until the day we rejoice with You forever.
Amen.
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