Feb 16
Gospel MT 9:14-15
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."
Why do we fast?
Why deprive ourselves of pleasure?
The reasons are many …
We imitate Christ's fasting for forty days in the desert before He began His public ministry.
Self-deprivation deepens our appreciation and longing for what we really need.
Jesus is our food, the giver of life.
We fast in order to seek him and desire to know him better.
Father, give us the grace to make our fast pleasing to you May our fasting bring us even deeper into the mysteries of Christ.