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Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time - To Fast or Not to Fast

Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time - To Fast or Not to Fast

Catholic Daily Reflections vor 2 Jahren

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Catholic Daily Reflections

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Short reflections on the Gospel of the day, from My Catholic Life!

Religion & Spiritualität

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“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As
long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But
the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and
then they will fast on that day.” Mark 2:19–20

The passage above reveals Jesus’ response to the disciples of John
the Baptist and some Pharisees who question Jesus about fasting.
They point out that the disciples of John and the Pharisees each
follow the Jewish laws on fasting, but Jesus’ disciples do not.
Jesus’ answer goes to the heart of the new law on fasting.

Fasting is a wonderful spiritual practice. It helps to strengthen
the will against disordered fleshly temptations and helps to bring
purity to one’s soul. But it needs to be pointed out that fasting
is not an eternal reality. One day, when we are face-to-face with
God in Heaven, there will no longer be any need to fast or do any
form of penance. But while on earth, we will struggle and fall and
lose our way, and one of the best spiritual practices to help us
return to Christ is prayer and fasting combined.

Fasting becomes necessary “when the bridegroom is taken away.” In
other words, fasting is necessary when we sin and our union with
Christ begins to fade. It is then that the personal sacrifice of
fasting helps open our hearts once again to our Lord. This is
especially true when habits of sin form and become deeply
ingrained. Fasting adds much power to our prayer and stretches our
souls so as to be able to receive the “new wine” of God’s grace
where we need it the most.

Reflect, today, upon your approach to fasting and other penitential
practices. Do you fast? Do you make regular sacrifices so as to
strengthen your will and help you to turn more fully to Christ? Or
has this healthy spiritual practice been somewhat neglected in your
life? Renew your commitment to this holy endeavor today and God
will work powerfully in your life.

Lord, I open my heart to the new wine of grace that You wish to
pour forth upon me. Help me to be properly disposed to this grace
and to use every means necessary to become more open to You. Help
me, especially, to commit to the wonderful spiritual practice of
fasting. May this act of mortification in my life bear abundant
fruit for Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.

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