Febuary 24th

February 24, 2023
Friday after Ash Wednesday
Mr. David Garcia: Theology Teacher
Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15 (221)

Lenten Reflection: 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."

The question is why do we fast? Or what is the reason behind fasting? This is the question Jesus
answers in this Gospel passage. First off, we have to understand some of the metaphoric
languages Jesus applies here. Jesus refers to Himself as the bridegroom and His disciples as his
wedding guest. So why does Jesus refer to himself as the bridegroom and what is the
significance of the word? When referenced to the Church, the bridegroom refers to Jesus Christ
who is the head of the church. While the Church itself is referenced as the Bride of Christ. This
figure of speech or metaphor is used to reference the intimate mystical relationship between the
Church and Jesus Christ. Moreover, to get a more practical understanding of this, we think of the
traditional family to understand the metaphoric language that is applied. In the family, the
husband is the head of the family who watches over and protects his wife and children, while the
wife and children follow the guidance of the Husband. This formula/intimate partnership allows
the nuclear family to flourish. Therefore, this is applicable to the understanding of the Church, as
the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) guides and protects the Church (The Bride), and the Church (The
Bride) follows the guidance and teachings of Christ who is the Bridegroom. Again, like the
nuclear family, this intimate relationship allows us Christians to flourish. 
Now that we have some background, what is the underlying meaning between Jesus and fasting?
First off, we must recognize that if Jesus is the head of the Church or the Bridegroom, then it is
evident that He is the Messiah who has come to save us and bring us salvation. Furthermore, He
indicates that He is the reason why we fast, so we can enter into a deeper relationship with Him.
Now, we can attach this context to the Gospel passage. If the wedding guests (disciples) are
rejoicing with the bridegroom (Jesus), there is no need to fast at that moment, since fasting is for
penance and mourning. But when the Bridegroom (Jesus) is taken away for his passion, he says
“then they will fast.” Hence, this is the Lenten season when we anticipate the Lord’s passion. As
Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, so do we as Catholics and Christians in
general strive to imitate Him. Fasting made Jesus stronger in the spirit and in the flesh and we
must follow His witness. Therefore, the number one objective of fasting is to enhance our divine
intimacy with Jesus Christ, and what follows from this is a discipline of the spirit and the flesh.