THE CONTENT OF THE NEW WAY OF FASTING (HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME July 2022
THE CONTENT OF THE NEW WAY OF FASTING Good morning dearest brothers and sisters in Christ. Central to the reflection of this morning is the question of fasting. We are told that the disciples of John came to Jesus and said, “why is it that we and the pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus responded, surely the bridegroom attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast” (Mt 9:14-15). Talking about fasting, our homily on the above narrative will be in 3 stages: (1) Before the coming of Jesus (2) the presence of the Messiah, the bridegroom (3) After the earthly departure of Jesus. ( 1) On the situation before the coming of Jesus: The people had always been engaged in fasting even before the coming of Jesus. They fasted for repentance and the coming of the messiah (the presence of God). For instance, we are told in the Gospel of Luke that “Anna the daughter of Phanuel,...