TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST

MUSINGS - September 24 2018

TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST

Mark 2:18-20
"John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples don't?" Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests fast while the groom is still with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast."

Only one Jewish holiday has the command to fast, Yom Kippur. But there were many days that were, by custom, considered fasting days. Fasting was only during the daylight hours and not on Fridays or Sabbaths.

These fasting days were to commentate some historical event in the lives of the Jewish people. Usually these were negative events such as sieges, the destruction of the 10 Commandments, et cetera. Fasting would not be done on a holiday it day of celebration, such as a wedding.

Every day in presence of the Messiah would be a day of celebration and therefore no fasting.

During the period of Lent many modern Christians do a symbol fast by "giving up" something for Lent. Along with temporarily depriving yourself you are to focus on becoming more in tune with our I in line with God's will.

Because Christ the bridegroom is not with us, personal, private fasting can be practice as an act of contrition.

Have you ever practiced fasting as a way to strengthen your bound with God?

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