The Holy Gospel according to Matthew (9:14-15).
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: Today’s Gospel speaks to us about fasting, one of the three pillars of our Lenten practice of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. The dictionary definition of fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food and drink for a specified period of time. A spiritual definition of fasting can be abstaining from food as a way to seek God’s guidance and direction, a discipline that can be combined with prayer. In today’s Gospel, we see the disciples of John the Baptist asking Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast regularly, but his disciples do not. This is a question that is asked in today’s 1st reading from Isaiah 58:3, “Why do we fast?”
Jesus answers them with a question. “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Most of us have been to a wedding reception. This is a time to joyfully celebrate the newly married couple. It is a time to “eat, drink and be merry.” It is not a time to mourn and be sad. The reason Jesus gave was because it was not normal to fast when the bridegroom was still around. He is the bridegroom and, as long as he was present, it was a time for celebration. Jesus’ presence brings us joy. While He was on the earth, Jesus’ disciples lived in joy of being with him. Jesus also foreshadows His suffering and death. “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and them they will fast.” That will be the time when fasting and mourning will be necessary. Fasting is a sign of mourning and would be as inappropriate at this time of joy, when Jesus is proclaiming the Kingdom, as it would be at a marriage feast.
This Gospel also calls us to recognize the phases of our spiritual life. There are times of joy, when we celebrate God’s blessings. There are times of sadness, purification and penance, when we fast and pray. Fasting is not just about sacrifice. It is about making room for God. It is about “fasting” from those things in our life and world that keep us being in relationship with God.
Action for the Day: As we reflect on this Gospel, we need to ask ourselves if we are truly attentive to Christ’s presence in and around us. In our call to fasting during Lent, are our eyes fixed on Jesus? Do we embrace both the good times and bad, the joys and sacrifices in our faith journey? Pray for the grace to always seek Jesus, the Bridegroom, with joyful hearts full of love, knowing that true joy in found in Him alone.
Audio Reflection:
Thank you, Deacon Mike. You always give us something to ponder and then act on. God bless.