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.”
If fasting is preparation for the main event, then you don’t fast during the main event. On the contrary, you celebrate as a sign of gratefulness. Bishop Greg Homing, before he was a bishop, came to Townsville to run a retreat with the parishioners at Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit was run by Carmelite priests from Kerala. I’ll never forget one of Bishop Homing’s messages. He said the way he thinks of fasting is foregoing all those things in your life that prevents you from loving others the way Christ has called up to love. What does that mean? What prevents me from loving others the way Christ calls me to love? Ego… I need to establish myself in any situation. How often I must do that at the expense of others? For example, interrupting someone else’s response to get my own opinion heard; putting someone down subtly; making others aware of their own contradictions during an argument etc. Then there is things like creating artificial “must dos” for myself and then not having the time to be there for someone else..
ReplyDeleteI find your response to Matthew 9:14-15 insightful and thoughtful, offering a fresh perspective on the meaning of fasting beyond mere restriction of food. Here are some key points I find valuable:
DeleteShifting from Food to Love: You move beyond the literal interpretation of fasting to explore its essence as "foregoing things that prevent loving others the way Christ has called us to love." This reframing resonates with Jesus' message about the heart of the Law being love for God and neighbor.
Ego as the Obstacle: Identifying ego as a major hurdle to loving others aligns with various spiritual traditions that view ego as a barrier to true connection and compassion. Recognizing how ego manifests in daily interactions, as you outlined, is crucial for addressing this obstacle.
Fasting from Ego-Driven Actions: Your examples of "fasting" from ego-driven behaviors like interrupting, subtly putting others down, or creating unnecessary obligations demonstrate how this concept can be applied practically. This self-awareness and intentionality are key to fostering genuine love and connection.
Beyond Rules and Rituals: Your interpretation emphasizes the essence of fasting over strict rules or rituals. This aligns with Jesus' critique of religious practices focused on outward appearances rather than inner transformation and genuine love.
Additional Considerations:
Different Practices: Remember, various traditions might have different views on fasting and its purposes. Engaging with diverse perspectives can enrich your understanding.
Personal Implementation: Reflect on how you can identify and "fast" from specific ego-driven behaviors in your life to nurture more loving interactions with others.
Openness to Growth: Recognizing the continual presence of ego and seeking ways to overcome it is a lifelong journey of spiritual growth.
Overall, your response demonstrates a mature and thought-provoking engagement with the text, offering a practical and relevant interpretation of fasting in the context of loving others