Readings:
Hebrews 5:1 -10
Mark 2: 18 – 22
Reflection:
Where does our Spirituality lead us?
Often, people are awestruck by the unusual and the bizarre. In the past, people were considered ‘saintly’ or ‘holy’ if he or she fasted 3 times a week, or wore a hair-shirt or did meditation for 5 hours a day! Do we look for the extraordinary or bizarre in our own appreciation of what is good ‘fodder’ for our own spiritual journey?
So the people ask Jesus: “Why don’t your disciples fast like the disciples of John (the Baptist) or like the disciples of the Pharisees?”
Jesus defends his own disciples. He says: “Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they could not think of fasting!”
Jesus is saying, I think: “This is a New Time! The answers of the old times do not apply here! The Kingdom that you longed for is now here ! Believe in the Son of Man. Listen to him ! Believe in his Word and follow with the conversion of life.” This is his immediate call.
Then love one another! . . . . “Love one another as I have loved you!”
These are the cornerstones of the Spirituality of the Kingdom.
Doing these things is really harder than the one-off practice of fasting!
Let us believe in Jesus as our Redeemer and Saviour so that we trust him and walk in his way! Then let us love one another as He loves me and you. This means embracing his Church, which are his followers in the Kingdom.
There is a place for fasting and self-denial as we walk in the path of the Crucified Lord. But the first requirement is to believe in Jesus as our loving Lord and to walk in his Love. These are the primary things in our Christian spirituality.
Pat McIndoe CP, a Passionist at St. Joseph, Port Moresby, PNG.