The gospel for Friday after Ash Wednesday is taken from Matthew 9:14, 15th verse. The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, why do we and the Pharisees fast much? But your disciples do not fast. Jesus answered them. Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast.

Fasting in the time of Jesus was not just not eating food. It was about deep reflection, most especially about repentance. Wanting to change, struggling to change. But Jesus is pointing out that when you have the source of forgiveness living with you, when you have the source of truth living with you, there is no reason to go off by yourself and to ponder and to wonder and to ask when he is right there in your midst. It’s a beautiful image of what the Old Testament his versus the New Testament. The Old Testament longs for a Savior.

The New Testament announces his presence. Please pause and reflect upon these images and then I will close with a prayer. Closing prayer Father, during this season, help us to recognize the reality of your presence in our hearts. That when we go there and converse with you, we are truly engaged in the most important work, particularly the work of this season. Bless us with awareness of your presence. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.