Friday after Ash Wednesday
A short commentary on the Gospel of the day accoring to Catholic Lecionary
Gospel
Matthew 9:14-15
When the
bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast
1.
John’s disciples came to
Jesus and said,
2.
‘Why is it that we and
the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’
3.
Jesus replied,
4.
‘Surely the bridegroom’s
attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still
with them?
5.
But the time will come
for the bridegroom to be taken away from them,
6.
and then they will fast.’
This Gospel contains a profound life changing
truth. Life is a wedding. Jesus is the Bridegroom. His community and each one
in it he calls to be the bride. Life is meant to be a loving relationship of
intimacy with Jesus. This is his desire and it should be ours. He gives himself
to us. We should give ourselves to him. Now in faith, later in bliss.
There is an ominous note. The Bridegroom will
be taken away. Jesus will suffer violent
persecution and a violent death. He suffers it willingly for the sake of his
bride. The bride too suffers the loss.
Now we fast because
1.
we have lost our
Bridegroom from sight. We have no interest in earthly pleasures except for
survival. We are not at home here, because he is not here with us in sight,
though with us in spirit. We long with all our hearts to be with him in every
way. That only is the life of bliss.
2.
Our Bridegroom suffered
freely and willingly so that his bride may have lasting joy with him. Now until
we reach him, the bride fasts to share spiritually in the sufferings of her
Bridegroom. How can I not suffer for him? ‘You suffered joyfully for me, I will
suffer joyfully for you. I will crucify sin in my life. I will violently
crucify everything that pains you, my Beloved.’ And so, we fast out of love for
him and to be spiritually one with him. We are not interested in the pleasures
of this world. Our desire is only for him.
3.
For the same reason we
crucify our own pleasures reaching out to others in love, because this is the
desire of the Bridegroom. We treat others as we would treat the Bridegroom if
he was visible like they are. Why? This gives joy to our Bridegroom.
My life becomes a loving crucifixion for him,
just as his was for me.
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