The Gospel for Friday after Ash Wednesday is taken from Matthew 9, 14, 15. The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, why do we and the Pharisees fast much but your disciples do not? 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 they will fast. The disciples of John did not have the benefit of the teaching of Jesus.

And I’m sure it was difficult for them to shift their attention away from their teacher John the Baptist, and to Jesus the Messiah. But what is clear that Jesus is trying to say is that John’s message was preparing them for who he is. And who he is is God’s presence in a human being. And he’s here to proclaim that that is our inheritance. So Jesus underscores the fact that the goal of the kingdom is closeness with God. And when that God is present, there is no need to be fasting.

Sam sa. Foreign. Closing Prayer Father, your presence is something that we need to pay attention to, to know that you dwell within us. We celebrate in a beautiful way through rituals, the presence of God in the mystery of transubstantiation coming and dwelling in our hearts as Catholics. It’s a beautiful image, and he comes in so many different ways. But it’s important that we not fall into the trap of not understanding fully that God truly does want to marry us.

He is the bridegroom and we are the bride, and we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.