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.”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.What it must have been like for the disciples to be with Jesus. They clearly did not understand what they had, but still, it must have been amazing. That kind of closeness is what He wants with us all, He yearns to be our friend, to hear our problems and to help us along our journey, and this is the point of what Jesus is saying here. When you are close to Jesus, feasting with Him, then you are as close to heaven as a person can get in this world.
Why then would we fast? We will not be fasting in heaven. It will be endless feasting, and joy. But we fast now, because sadly, we are far from god, and we need this discipline in order to reject this world and regain our closeness to Him. But when you are close you need not fast. But how often in this life are we that close?
In this life, we are so entrenched in sin that we never seem to see the joy in any moment, and we are so far from God, and we sadly reject Him and think that we dont need Him, and we fool ourselves into that misery. But the secret to this entire problem is to simply open your mind and heart to Him. And the way to do that is by gaining control over your passions by rejecting this world’s temptations, and the best way to do that is through fasting.
A friend once told me this quote, I don’t know who originally said it, but, “No matter how many steps you take away from Jesus, it is only one step back.” This is the spiritual life, and it is hard but simple, but when you do, you will find Him running to you like the father of the prodigal son. And how great will that embrace be when we are reunited.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me to draw closer to you this lent. Through my prayer, fasting and almsgiving, let me reject this world, and love you more fully, amen.