Mending Our Relationship with God!

Friday, March 7, 2025

Is 58: 1-9; Mt 9:14-15

Today’s Gospel highlights the purpose of fasting, which is to seek and be present in the company of God.

The Gospel text shows the disciples of John approaching Jesus with their question on fasting. 

Jesus clarifies his position in two ways. 

The practice of fasting undertaken by John’s disciples was rooted in the Old Testament spirituality. Since every spiritual practice takes on a new meaning with Jesus, the fasting undertaken by John’s disciples is not relevant for Jesus or his disciples to follow. 

Secondly, the fasting undertaken by the Pharisees was merely a show-off and, at best, an exploitation of religion for self-serving purposes. As Jesus has shown time and again that their fasting was more hypocrisy than piety, Jesus rules out following their model either. 

However, there is something more to the response of Jesus. While giving reasons for not following either of the fasting models, Jesus explains to John’s disciples about the real purpose of fasting. The answer given by Jesus hints at his death. In other words, it is when the disciples experience separation from Jesus because of his death that his disciples will fast. 

While our closeness with God calls for joy, separation from God causes us sorrow. 

Here is where a spiritual practice like fasting holds more relevance and meaning. The season of Lent, which is also a season of grace, is meant to repair our broken relationship with God if we suffer from separation from the Divine. 

Let us pray that we may make use of the season of Lent to mend our ways and maintain our closeness with God. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar