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The Bridegroom and the joy of the Gospel

In today’s Gospel we find two themes.

The first is that Jesus’ disciples seem to be doing well, seem to be enjoying life: they eat and drink, while the disciples of John and the Pharisees appear to be fasting. For the Pharisees and the scribes this is a contradiction.

In reality it is a trick question. The Pharisees and the scribes cannot understand Jesus and his ministry. They cannot see what is happening, because their hearts are hardened and blinded. The lives of the people around them are changing for the better — the Kingdom of God, the reign of peace, joy and righteousness, is entering into people’s hearts — but none of this matters to those who seek to judge Jesus and his work.

Saint Paul, in the first reading, says that it means nothing to him if anyone presumes to judge his ministry: he says that only God will judge rightly, according to the truth.

Jesus answers the Pharisees with the same image that John the Baptist had used in speaking of him: the image of the Bridegroom. And we know that where the Bridegroom is, there is the Bride, there is the wedding feast. All of us are called to take part in the wedding feast of the Lamb.

This is the Eucharist, this is the purpose of our life, the purpose of the Church. When the Bridegroom is with us, it is a time of joy. We Christians are called to be always people of joy — Saint Paul tells us: “Rejoice always! Do not be anxious about anything. The Lord is near.”

Let us be sure that in our lives too, with Jesus, pain, loss and suffering will not have the last word. When we are with Jesus, whatever happens to us — even evil and sorrow — will later turn into good and bring joy. Let us not be afraid!

These reflections were shared during the homily for Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, celebrated on 4 September 2026.

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