"Fasting is a Discipline of Love"

Today's Mass Readings

The Gospel reading for today is instructive on many levels. Jesus was known to be found among sinners. He spent time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and others who were on the margins of society. Furthermore, He was often found eating and drinking with His disciples at some festive occasion. Jesus is frequently depicted in the Gospels at meals, and often having meals with sinners. Some scribes and Pharisees approach Jesus and ask why Jesus’ disciples eat and drink in celebration and do not fast the way that their own disciples and even the disciples of John the Baptist fast. Jesus responds to them by explaining how silly it would be for those attending a wedding banquet to fast. He compares Himself to the Bridegroom. This is a significant statement, since, throughout the Old Testament (for example, in the Books of the Prophets Ezekiel and Hosea), God is seen as the bridegroom. Jesus is explaining that He is the divine bridegroom, and while He is with them, it is appropriate for His disciples to feast. He does acknowledge, however, the importance of fasting. He explains that once He is taken away, His disciples indeed will fast.

Fasting indeed is an important spiritual practice to help prepare us for encountering Christ. For Catholics, this is especially apparent during the Season of Lent, when we fast in different ways, in anticipation of Easter Joy. In fact, for all of the faithful who are of age, and in good health, there is a one hour fast before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. This type of fasting is meant to aid us in preparing ourselves for Jesus the divine bridegroom. Let us make it a habit to regularly abstain from something good, even if it is small. In this way, may we learn to rely more upon God. Fridays, like today, are prefect days for such a practice. The faithful used to be required to abstain from meat on Fridays, which is now only reserved for Fridays during Lent. The faithful are still expected to either engage in some kind of fast or else add some extra spiritual exercise every Friday throughout the year. Some Catholics continue to abstain from meat every Friday.

Pope John Paul II prayed the stations of the cross every Friday throughout the year (and every day throughout Lent). Let us each think of some spiritual exercise, whether that be a prayer or a small fast, to help prepare us for the Sunday joy of the Resurrection of Christ. In this way, we can learn to rely more upon God, and we can prepare ourselves to reject sin and follow Christ.