Lenten Reflections - Day 2

Matthew 9:14-15 
(Gospel on 07-Mar-2014)

After Prophet Malachi, God is silent for about four hundred years, and in His perfect timing, God sent the last prophet of the old covenant, John the Baptist, to pave the way for the coming of the Messiah. The disciples of such a great prophet; who also is the cousin of Jesus of Nazareth (in other words, God’s cousin, if we may say so), asked a very significant question to Jesus. 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?' This question would have come naturally to a 1^st century Jew.

Fasting is attested in the oldest strata of biblical literature. In the ritual practiced in the First Temple, fasting was clearly a permanent feature. The purpose of fasting was widely attested to avert or terminate a calamity by seeking God’s compassion (1 Kings 21:27-29), a means of winning God’s forgiveness (Ps 35: 13; 69:11). These disciples of John and especially the Pharisees were ‘well versed’ with the importance of fasting, as demanded and traditionally practiced according to Mosaic Law. This is why Paul says in Phil 3:5: “as to the law, a Pharisee.”  According to Josephus, a 1st Century AD Jewish chronicler, he Pharisees are the most influential sect of the Jews and their first characteristic is that they are devoted to the Torah (Law), to its interpretation, and to living life as closely as possible according to the Torah. They believe in cooperation between Fate (his Greek-sounding category for God’s sovereignty) and human will, but clearly lay emphasis on human will. The Pharisees, as strictly ‘practicing’ Jews, fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). And by seeing that the disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) weren’t fasting, hence they rightly questioned.

Now, my friends,  it is time to pay attention and understand the meaning of the answer Jesus; a devout Jew, gives to these self acclaimed rightful interpreters of The Law – Torah. In ancient Israel the marriage ceremony (Chuppah) was all about bringing the bride to the bridegroom’s house. This ceremony itself would last for 7 days, sometimes longer. There would be great rejoicing and celebration until evening, and also when they arrived in the bridegroom’s house. Once they entered, the doors were shut and the wedding ceremony began.

You see, the 7 days of celebration with the bridegroom can be interpreted as celebration with Jesus on each of the 7 days in the week. God in the form of Jesus; the bridegroom, was living amidst his people, here on the earth. He was the cause of celebration that will last everyday of one’s life. This is why Jesus replied, 'surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them?’ His disciples understood this through their witness of scriptures unfolding before their very own eyes, in Jesus’ words and deeds. In the same manner, Jesus is with us in body, soul and divinity, today and every single day of our lives, by the reality of the Holy Eucharist. Then why will there be a cause for mourning.

But then, there will come a time; Jesus says, ‘when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.’ This taking away signifies the death of our Christ, and does call for us His household, to fast and pray. We are His bride and He our Bridegroom, and it is right and just to mourn our fleeting separation from Him. But this bridegroom is the most special of all. Death has no power over our covenant with Him. Upon His resurrection and coming again, we will all one day be invited, but only those chosen (Mattw 22:14) will enter into His house. That is when the doors will be shut for all eternity, and those inside at the table with him shall partake in a celebration which will last for all eternity. Amen.

God bless,

John Roger Anthony