LUKE 5:33–39
THE QUESTION ABOUT FASTING
Text – Luke 5:33–39
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”
35 “But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”
36 And he also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one…”
37 “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins…”
39 “And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
Historical and Jewish Context
Fasting was a common religious practice in Jewish tradition, especially among Pharisees and John the Baptist’s followers, as a sign of repentance and mourning. It was typically practiced twice a week. Jesus’ contemporaries expected similar religious discipline from all holy men. The bridegroom imagery is rooted in Jewish wedding customs and Old Testament references to God as the Bridegroom of Israel (cf. Isaiah 62:5, Hosea 2:16). Wineskins were used to store fermenting wine—new wine required flexible skins to expand with the fermentation process, symbolizing the incompatibility between the old and the new.
Catholic Theological Perspective
Jesus identifies Himself as the Bridegroom—pointing to the divine nuptial relationship between God and His people (CCC 796). His presence marks a time of joy, not mourning. The call to fast will return when “the Bridegroom is taken away,” alluding to His Passion. The parables of the patch and wineskins illustrate that the New Covenant cannot be forced into old religious structures. The Gospel brings a radical transformation that requires openness of heart (CCC 1965–1970). Christian fasting is thus rooted not only in discipline but in the longing for Christ and preparation for union with Him.
Parallels in Scripture
Isaiah 62:5 – “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride…”
Hosea 2:16 – The Lord calls Israel His bride
Matthew 9:14–17 – Similar question about fasting
Mark 2:18–22 – Parallel passage with wineskins
Revelation 19:7 – Marriage of the Lamb
Key Terms
Fasting – Religious discipline of self-denial and repentance
Bridegroom – Messianic title expressing intimacy between Christ and the Church
New Wine – Symbol of the new life and teaching Jesus brings
Old Wineskins – Symbol of rigid traditions unable to contain the Gospel
Joy – Proper response to the presence of Christ
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage is read during Ordinary Time and often referenced in teachings on fasting during Lent. It reminds the faithful that fasting is appropriate when done in relationship with Christ—either in longing for His return or in union with His suffering. The Eucharist is the ongoing wedding feast of the Bridegroom with His Church.
Conclusion
Jesus challenges the expectation that religious practice must always follow traditional forms. His coming brings something new—something that calls for interior transformation, not just external observance. True fasting and discipline are responses to Christ’s presence or absence, rooted in love, not law.
Reflection
Is my spiritual life open to the newness Christ brings, or am I clinging to old patterns?
Do I fast and pray out of love and longing for Christ, or out of obligation?
Am I allowing Jesus to transform me into a new vessel for His grace?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Bridegroom of my soul. Teach me when to rejoice in Your presence and when to fast in longing. Make me a new vessel, ready to receive the wine of Your Spirit. Help me embrace the fullness of Your Gospel with joy and surrender. Amen.