Santhiya Philomone csc –
Readings: Is 58: 1-9a; Mt 9: 14-15
In Today’s gospel passage we see John’s disciples come to Jesus and ask him why he and his disciples don’t fast as John and the Pharisees do. Jesus does not answer their question directly.
Rather he uses the metaphor of a wedding. Jesus tells them that the guests do not mourn at a wedding while the bridegroom is still in their presence. The time for fasting is when the
bridegroom is “taken away” from them.
Perhaps Jesus speaks of fasting as a way of mourning. When we think of fasting, we often equate it with “giving up” something. It might be choosing not to do something; it can be a very small act in a day that adds to the spiritual discipline to our life. Hence, we take more time for prayer, or we might strive to be more kind and more loving with everyone we encounter in our daily life (especially the ones who get on our nerves)! Not all of these are ways of mourning, but they are good disciplines and perhaps challenges for us.
We all need to realize that it is easy to make Lenten resolutions, but not easy to practice them. The difference is that we have another day to make the effort! But what will we choose today is the question.