Lent Day 3: Fasting and mourning

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TODAY’S READINGS

Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 9:14-15) ends on a somber note from Jesus:

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.” (v. 15b)

“Similar OT imagery depicts Yahweh as the husband of Old Covenant Israel (Is 54:5; Jer 3:20; Hos 2:14–20). Jesus takes this role upon himself and is now the divine spouse of the New Covenant Church (Jn 3:29; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7–9; CCC 796).” (The Gospel of Matthew [The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 32)

“Jesus describes himself as a bridegroom, thus applying to himself an Old Testament image for God in his relationship to Israel (Isa 62:4-5). A wedding feast is a very joyous occasion, and the mournful tone of fasting would not be fitting as long as the bridegroom is with them. Christ’s disciples will fast, when the bridegroom is taken away from them. This is Christ’s first hint of his passion, echoing Isa 53:8. (The Gospel of Matthew [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 135)

“The risen Jesus will assure his disciples that he will always be with them (Mt 28:20), but not visibly present in bodily form. Fasting was inappropriate during his public ministry, but fasting will be adopted as an ongoing practice by the early church (see Acts 13;:2-3; 14:23). The Didache will advise Christians to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays (Didache 8:1).” (Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life, 168)

It is unsurprising that fasting comes up as an early theme during Lent. Jesus went away for a short time (three days in the tomb), came back for a short time (for forty days after the Resurrection), and then ascended to heaven. It is rightly pointed out above that Jesus promised to be always with us, and He is no more so really present, than in the Eucharist (see my reminder below). Yet, fasting as a spiritual discipline remains. (For a deep dive, check out the always reliable 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.) Certainly Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but consider missing meals more often. Jesus used this discipline for forty days while preparing to begin His public ministry. So, we should consider doing the same when some major life change is about to occur. But, also, skipping a meal here and there for a particular intention is laudable. Our hunger pangs serve to remind us of the cause, help us to appreciate the bounty we have while empathizing (however briefly) with the less fortunate, and move us along in the area of detachment from the goods of this mortal coil, thus drawing us closer to the Almighty.

One thing we don’t want to fast from is the Eucharist, though. This the Lord would be happy to have us consume more frequently, even daily, if possible.

VIDEOS WORTH CHECKING OUT

REMINDER

My daily ten-minute Eucharist for Lent vidcasts continue today, where we explore the CCC on the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life” (LG 11).

Christ in the Desert (1872) by Ivan Kramskoi

God bless.

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