In today’s Gospel, Jesus again makes reference to a Wedding Feast. As I have shared with you before, a Wedding Feast was considered the best form of celebration the Jewish community could have. It was a time of feasting and jubilation, which provided the people with a break from their otherwise oppressive lives. The tradition was: as long as the couple stayed at home the gala continued. And those that continued the celebration were not subject to any of the Jewish rules of fasting during that time. By the way, normally the wedding celebration would go on for a week. //// And no I’m not suggesting we begin that follow that tradition in our parishes.
Anyway, this is essentially the background of Jesus’ statement about not fasting while the bridegroom is still around. He being the bridegroom of the Church and still being with them, but the Jewish tradition and Jesus both taught that fasting did have its place. Shortly we will begin the season of the Church year that part of it’s focus will be on fasting as well as prayer and alms giving (acts of charity).
Through Jesus and His Church we are encouraged to take this Lenten period of time to follow a somewhat different life pattern then what we might normally. The idea being, a spiritually motivated change can lift us out of any “spiritual rut’ we might be in.
Another reason for our Lenten disciplines can be found in the general comments often heard from someone that has been away for a while, “it is nice to go but it is nice to be back home”. And although we might not think of it this way, while we are away we are” fasting” from our homes. When we are away from something, like being gone from home, when we return we can appreciate it that much more. For any of us that have visited 3rd world countries, or even areas of poverty in our own country, can realize how blessed we are and unfortunately how little we can value what we have.
If our fast includes certain entertainment such as television or other individual habits after our fast, we can have a fresher approach and outlook with which to judge if these certain aspects of our lives are of the Lord. A fast cannot only wake us up to the gifts God has blessed us with. But, give us clearer thinking and a spiritual insight to decide what we might want to permanently change and nourish our relationship with the Lord.
Unfortunately our popular culture doesn’t support fasting from anything very much, in fact accumulation and consumption is the norm we’re encouraged to follow. The thought of going without something is almost unheard of and if we listen to the advertisers, can be unhealthy or even damaging.
Although this is the common way of modern society today; the Lord, through our Faith, tells us different. He tells us we need to take a brake from our ordinary, common everyday lives to regain an appreciation for the gifts the Father has given us in the Spirit. And to share what we have with those that are not quit as blessed. It is an ironic truth that going without and giving to others actually gives to us in return spiritual nourishment and a needed gratitude for the God given gifts we have. We need these types of practices to maintain a healthy balance and appreciation of the world in which we live and the spirit with which to understanding it.
There is one more aspect that goes back to the Jewish tradition of fasting. Fasting as a preparation for the coming of the Lord. There are many references in scripture to prophets fasting before proclaiming the will of God or undertaking some action that God had instructed them to do. And of course, in the New Testament is Jesus spending 40 days in the desert as a preparation for His ministry, a preparation that we will join Him in this coming week.
Jesus invites us to unite ourselves with Him in fasting, pray and acts of charity that we may be ready for His coming and gain a greater appreciation of the His Father and His Creation. And not to be forgotten, to share a piece of what the Creator has blessed us with that we may do our part in bring about His Kingdom.