Question on fasting

Short reflection on the question about fasting

 Synopsis:- (Mk 2: 18-22)

> Pharisees and disciples of John fast

> Jesus' don't

> They question Jesus

> Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

> Key statement :- The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

Mark 2:20

> Compares to (1) Old cloak and new cloak

And (2) old wine and new wine

 Reflection:-

This Bible scripture gives three important revelations i.e. about fasting, double-masked personalities and Old and new life in Christ.

Many youth these days play PUBG, what's this game all about?? And why the mention?? This game is basically about fighting with 96 others to win the Chicken Dinner.  Well, our lives are no different than this. We all get one life and our goal is Heaven. We hurt ourselves on the road to Heaven but our persistence is what makes us worthy of the achievement i.e. communion with God.

When Jesus was asked about fasting, the key point to note here is He said days(plural) and not day. But we Catholics fast only on Good Friday. If you are really close to God and are a keen listener to the promptings of the Holy Spirit then you will agree on my point that you tend to lose that touch with God. And that makes you restless. This is a clear indication that Jesus' presence is hampered and the only means to get your bridegroom back is by fasting and praying for repentance. Don't let your fast be a means to diet, but with deep sorrow reprove your relationship with Christ. 

The second lesson from this passage is about an individual having split personality i.e. with some people he/she is holy holy and with others they are completely the opposite. It's difficult to get rid of your old lifestyle, but not impossible! For Jesus trusts you because His Spirit is within you. A disciple of Christ must learn to discipline himself, for once when we depart from this world, we will be like angels. Angels are pure and clean spirits and we ought to be like them.

Robe/Cloak

The third lesson is on old versus the new life in Christ Jesus. The 2 elements mentioned by Jesus are "Cloak/Robe" and "Wineskins".

Robe was an outer garment worn to show the difference between slaves and people with Royal dignity. The same example of the robe is seen in the parable of the prodigal son. It's a sign of acceptance. When Jesus gives you a new robe, you don't make holes into it but handle with care.

Wineskins were pouches or jars to store wines. When a new wine is prepared, it swells up, which may lead it to burst since the old wineskin has swelled to it's maximum limit. That's why new wineskins are used because they can easily be stretched out.

So the point to infer from this is, when Jesus has made you new, why to go back to our old lives like pigs who go back to mud after being washed.

Wineskin

Jesus loves us so much and He wants us not to go back to our old lives but move forward as conquerors. 

Praise God❤