Today’s Gospel: Then
the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees
fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And
Jesus said to 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. Matt
9:14-15
Reflection: Some
fast for health, some fast for wealth and some fast for power. There are some
who fast for youth and some who seek to slim down, there are some who fast
under a medical advice and then there are some who may be compelled by
circumstances, such as a death or an ill health or lack of food and famine.
Whatever
the reason for fasting, for those who have abundance it is good for them to get
into the discipline of fasting so as to understand the birth pangs of hunger
and poverty.
One
of the compelling reasons for people to fast has been the going away of the
beloved, either on account of death or separation. One automatically enters
into a fast mode as if to say the lost will come back. The situation automatically
brings about a trauma and a lack of appetite for food.
I am
sure this cannot happen to us vis-a- vis our relationship with Christ in
comparison to the disciples of Jesus.
But at the same time Jesus does suggest a need to fast and compares it
to a situation of separation of a bridegroom from the beloved. “The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from
them, and then they will fast.” Vs. 15
Therefore,
the only way this can happen is to grow in the love of Jesus who is not visibly
with us so that we are able to experience him in the depths of our being. It is like a seed that is just cast away on a
soil and it grows but yet better still if the seed is sown in an atmosphere
created to bring about life and growth. This
will only be done if one knows the value of the seed to be sown and nurtured.
Prayer: Lord,
Let my fasting this season of lent help in grow in hunger for you and your word.
DD = Dedicated Discipleship: Come grow in the Lord with us
No comments:
Post a Comment