There Are No Calories In Heaven!

July 7, 2018 

I don’t know if you’re aware of this universal truth, but when people are on vacation, things like calorie counts and diets or daily exercise routines or self-discipline totally don’t apply! So we can eat whatever we want and not even worry a little bit about gaining weight while we’re on vacation right!! That’s why I love traveling so much! Obviously, I’m being hyperbolic here, but I’m kind of onto something that captures the spirit of the gospel today. Vacations are a time for us to celebrate leisure and leisure is a much-needed component for our overall well-being. Vacations are a rare gift, especially for Americans (because we tend to be workaholics), and when we do get to finally rest it is important that we retreat (re – treat) ourselves, replenish our souls, and take a break from the discipline of everyday life. I’m not giving us permission for gluttony, just a little controlled frivolity if you will. I think this is the gist of the gospel today. 

Jesus and His disciples were being criticized yet again for not fasting as much as the super religious people. Raise your hand if you have ever felt judged by super religious people for not being as super religious as they are. Jesus always comes back at the challenging questions with equally challenging questions that simply turn the tables and rock everybody’s world! "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.” In other words, heaven has come down to earth for just a short time to teach y’all about what heaven is about and there are no calories in heaven! There is no fasting when feasting is our only concern. There is no need for religious practice in heaven, because religious practice should fix our eyes on heaven, and not thwart us from heaven. Then He gives a couple more practical examples that would be easy for men and women in the Middle East to understand. “No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." Basically, Jesus came to make all things new including a new way of practicing the faith. The old ways are good and ushered in the new way, but the new way (Jesus) is better and provides us with rest, an easy yoke, and a break from drudgery. 

The disciples did indeed experience a great fast after Jesus (the bridegroom) was crucified, but it was their experience of the feast while He was with them (for just a short time – vacation) that gave them the fuel and the drive to evangelize the world that continues to this day, over 2,000 years later! Jesus calls us to see with new eyes, think with new thoughts, and recognize that He is our feast. Let Him be our rest from the weary world in this time set aside for prayer and study so that we can be dynamic witnesses of His workings in our lives. There are no calories in heaven and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 AM 9:11-15

Thus says the LORD:
On that day I will raise up
the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches,
raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
That they may conquer what is left of Edom
and all the nations that shall bear my name,
say I, the LORD, who will do this.
Yes, days are coming,
says the LORD,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed;
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine,
set out gardens and eat the fruits.
I will plant them upon their own ground;
never again shall they be plucked
From the land I have given them,
say I, the LORD, your God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (see 9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven. 
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Alleluia JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
"Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered them, "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.
No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,
for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."