Friday, February 28, 2020 — Friday after the ashes — Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9, 14-15 — Seek the right, not the evil, in order to live. So the Lord will be with you.
The disciples of John criticize the behaviour of the disciples of Jesus who do not respect the commandments on fasting. The answer of Jesus is clear: they will fast the day when the Bridegroom will no longer be among them.The Bridegroom of whom Jesus speaks here is none other than Himself.
As long as He is among us, we should rejoice with Him and fasting is not necessary. But on the day when He will no longer be among us, that is when we should fast, namely during the Lenten period, especially on Good Friday, as the Church commands us. It is the person of Jesus himself who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights that our 40 days of Lent in preparation for Easter now symbolize.
Dear Christians, may our fasting be voluntary and kind and not merely a conformism to the commandment. May we fast out of love for God and for others so that we may have a new heart.
