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Friday after Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:1
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9A
Psalm 51:3
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4, 5
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6AB, 18
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19
Matthew 9:14
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15
S
UMMARY
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but Your disciples do not fast?”
R
EFLECTION
Many times throughout Jesus’ teachings He is asked many questions, just
like the one posed in this Gospel. Many questions are based on not under-
standing what Jesus is saying in His parables and His followers are seek-
ing understanding.
All parents can relate to these inquiries as when talking to our children, we
will often say something in the form of a story and they don’t quite get it.
So we explain.
This is the case in this Gospel and Jesus replies with a story: “Can the
wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” Huh?
“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and
then they will fast,” Aah, OK, I think I get it!
But do we get it? Here is the story Jesus recites to explain the circum-
stance of his disciples not fasting, but is that all there is in his reply? Often
we will dwell on the words and come to a conclusion and maybe not see
the bigger picture, just like our children, we can become quite literal.
I think there is a larger meaning here in the parable that is connected to
Pope Francis’ call for a Year of Mercy. How do I get here? Let me express
the following thought based on having read, Pope Francis’ book:
The
Name of God is Mercy
.
In our daily routine we go about living our lives in the context of our per-
spective of how things relate to us. We tend to judge incidents and people
based on comparisons to us. In essence we are judging others to us.
Hey Jesus, I am fasting, the Pharisees are fasting, how come Your people
are not fasting?