Today's Reflections
The Question about Fasting
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Mk 2:18-22
18The
disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People
came to [Jesus] and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the
disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19Jesus
answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is
with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot
fast.
20But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21No
one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its
fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22Likewise,
no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will
burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new
wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
Your disciples do not fast.
People point out that, unlike the disciples of John and the disciples
of the Pharisees, Jesus’ disciples do not fast. In reply, Jesus raises
the issue to another plane. He is the Messiah, the Bridegroom; hence,
his disciples must make use of this opportunity to celebrate with his
festive presence (cf Jer 33:11; Sg 5:1). Jesus emphasizes a deeper way
of relating with God. This message, this new mentality, must be taken
like new wine that must be put into new wineskins, and not into old
wineskins or old institutions and rites. Otherwise, the container will
burst; our relationship with God will remain superficial.
“Obedience
is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.” The
prophet Samuel reprimands Saul for disobeying the Lord. The king of
Israel has been ordered to exterminate the Amalekites once these are
defeated in battle. After his victory, however, Saul spares choice sheep
and oxen of the Amalekites to offer them in sacrifice to the Lord.
Do we deepen our love for God,
not only in terms of prayer but also
in our right relationship with other people?
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