Jesus had a very agile imagination and could see opportunities for teaching in any situation with many enlightening images. In today's Gospel passage he immediately responds to the scribes and Pharisees with teaching about himself, using an Old Testament image. While they spoke about religious activities, fasting and reciting prayers, Jesus answered in terms of presence.

Jesus spoke of the Bridegroom, indicating indirectly but clearly that in him God was present. "Bride of Yahweh" was an image for Israel, and "Bridegroom" was an image for God. It seems that the scribes and the Pharisees did not get the message perhaps because it was unimaginable for them that Jesus would hint that he was divine. We, however, are taught this message in many different ways: Jesus is "God with us".

As a parable of the spiritual life, this passage teaches us that, when we experience God present with us, we ought to rejoice. When God seems to be absent and we are in spiritual darkness and desolation, then we must pray more fervently and perhaps practice fasting, thus opening our hearts to God who loves us more than any Bridegroom can love a Bride.