Friday after Ash Wednesday
Gospel – Matthew 9:14-15
“‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’” In these words, we can see the meaning of Fasting. The period when the bridegroom is with them is a time for celebration, not mourning or fasting. However, Jesus foretells a time when the bridegroom will be “taken away” from them, indicating his death, and it is during this time that fasting becomes appropriate as an expression of longing for His presence. Fasting is to make alive the presence of the bridegroom who is Jesus. Fasting is the way to live in the presence of Jesus who is the bridegroom. Fasting is seen not merely as an act of penance or self-denial but as a spiritual exercise that makes the presence of Jesus more alive in our life. In the absence of the bridegroom, fasting becomes a way to express longing for his presence, to prepare oneself for His return, and to live in closer communion with Him. It’s a tangible expression of the spiritual reality that the Church, as the bride, yearns for a deeper union with Christ, the bridegroom. Let’s reflect: Lent is the way to make the presence of Jesus alive in our life.
Friday 16 February
