FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Mt 9:14-15) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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 they will fast.” (Mt 9:15) 

FIRST READING - Isaiah 58:1-9a

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

Thus says the Lord GOD:

Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,

lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;

Tell my people their wickedness,

and the house of Jacob their sins.

They seek me day after day,

and desire to know my ways,

Like a nation that has done what is just

and not abandoned the law of their God;

They ask me to declare what is due them,

pleased to gain access to God.

""Why do we fast, and you do not see it?

afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?""

Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,

and drive all your laborers.

Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,

striking with wicked claw.

Would that today you might fast

so as to make your voice heard on high!

Is this the manner of fasting I wish,

of keeping a day of penance:

That a man bow his head like a reed

and lie in sackcloth and ashes?

Do you call this a fast,

a day acceptable to the LORD?

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking every yoke;

Sharing your bread with the hungry,

sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;

Your vindication shall go before you,

and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Matthew 9:14-15

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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."

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Mt 9:14-15)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today’s Word of God, Jesus teaches the disciples of John the Baptist, the Pharisees, and the scribes the purpose of fasting.

The act of fasting does not come from the soul, meaning it is not about outwardly pretending to be sad or miserable with the intention of letting people know that you are fasting or living a moral and holy life.

-Fasting is not meant to show off to everyone that you are mortifying yourself. Instead, fasting from the soul is about practicing justice and charity, showing love for your fellow human beings, and returning to be reconciled with God.

-Fasting is about mortifying yourself, giving up passions, giving up sins, and living a pure and holy life from the soul. Only then will you be worthy to be in the Kingdom of Heaven with God.

As for the Pharisees and scribes who fast, God knows their hearts. They fast only for the outward appearance. Jesus said, '"When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast." The image of the bridegroom represents Jesus. The bridegroom is taken away when Jesus leaves the disciples, leaves this world, and ascends to heaven. That is when people will fast. Jesus does not oppose fasting because fasting always brings good things to people when they practice its true meaning. Jesus Himself fasted for 40 days when He began His ministry.

But why did God say, '"When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast?"' That is when people live in sin, when they do their own will and not God's will when they follow the will of Satan. At that point, people do not have God in them—that is when the bridegroom is taken away. Therefore, God always wants to invite everyone to fast and pray continuously to God to defeat Satan. The purpose of fasting is for humanity to draw closer to God, to give up our passions and sins, and to live a holy life, becoming more holy each day as God's Word calling.

God loves humanity, He knows what is good and what is bad for us, and He knows that we cannot defeat Satan on our own. So, God calls on all of us to sacrifice, to give up our passions, and to fast—such as abstaining from eating meat. Humanity cannot defeat Satan if we continue to follow our passion for eating and drinking.

Why does God always remind us to abstain from meat, especially meat from animals and poultry? He said that eating meat is not a sin, but Satan loves meat. When we eat meat, we are bringing more of Satan into our bodies, making us weak and unable to fight against Satan. Therefore, it is better not to eat meat to avoid Satan.

Jesus also taught that those who want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven must follow the Lord’s teachings: pray, fast from the heart; do not tear your clothes without tearing your heart. Practice justice and charity, and do not fast only with your lips. Do not fast in an outward appearance but inwardly treat your fellow human beings unjustly, without charity, without love.

Thanks be to God. Amen.