Mat 9:15 Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

"Mourn" is from pentheô (pentheo), which means "to bewail," "to mourn," "to go into mounring," and "to lament." It is the same word used for "mourn" in the Beatitudes (Mat 5:4).

The term translated as "bridechamber" is numphon, which can either be the room of the marriage bed or marriage ceremony. It means simply "brideroom." Numphios is "bridegroom."

The term translated as "shall be taken" is apairo, which means "to lift off," "to carry off," and "to lead away."

The term translated as "fast" is nesteuo, which specifically means a religious fast.

This blog is written from the point of view that Christ's words were directed not only at those around him during his life but at us today. What is the message in this statement for us?

The most interesting part of this statement is that it is the first time that Christ refers to himself as a "bridegroom." Of all the metaphors Christ's uses for his mission, this is the most interesting if only because it raises the issue about who the bride is. The historical answer is the Christian church, but Christ gives no clue here. Are we the "sons of the bridechamber" like the apostles are are we Christ's bride? Christ uses the metaphor of the wedding feast as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven. Are we guests at the feast? Is so, we should be joyful.

Also interesting is the choice of apairo as the term for being taken away. This word seems to refer both to the crucifixion ("lead away") but also to the ascension after the resurrection ("lift off"). There were actually two separations in the Christ story. However, how does this description fit our relationship with Christ? After the joy of knowing Christ, when will we be sad? How will he be taken from us?

Historically, Christ was saying why his followers are not ascetics like John the Baptist's were. When it comes to his message for us today, do we celebrate or do we fast? Perhaps the easiest way to think is that as long as we are with Christ in spirit, we should celebrate. When we feel ourselves moving away from Christ, we should fast and do penance.