Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15
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Reflection:
Do you practice fasting?
The church teaches us that we have to practice fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Does it have any basis in the Bible? Yes just to name a few: Jonah 3:7, Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.
Matthew 4:2: “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.”
Matthew 6:16: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.
To practice fasting is an edifying experience, for we would discover that we can still be productive even if we are fasting, as long as we focus our attention on Jesus, who observed fasting for forty days in the desert and, in the process, was tempted in vain by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).
But more than the voluntary denial of food it also requires us to fast from doing anything that would offend God and our fellowmen. From doing anything that would defile us physically and spiritually. For example we fast from committing sin, we fast from judging our neighbor and so forth.
In the gospel Jesus was asked by the Pharisees and John’s disciples why His followers were not fasting. Jesus answered them that there’s no reason yet for them to fast because He is with them (Matthew 9:15).
When are we, therefore, going to be with Jesus so that we will no longer practice fasting? It’s when we die and eventually ascend to heaven, which is sure to come if we continue to live our lives worthy in the eyes of God until our last breath in this world. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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