Lectio 7.05.13

7.05.13

Lectio: Mt 9.14-17                                         

Meditatio: "The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples to not fast’?” Mt 9.14
                  
Oratio: "O God, we, too often see the speck in the other’s eye but fail to see the obvious.

I remember John’s disciples failed to see Jesus for who He is and decried the fact that Jesus’ disciples were not fasting. Had they discerned who Jesus was, they would have realized the purpose of fasting, was already fulfilled in their midst.

Grant that I may always rejoice in Jesus, my savior, and fast periodically, not to hasten His coming, but to discipline myself as His brother so as to love and serve Him better.

I ask all things in the name of Jesus who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplation: spend a few moments in silence and reflect on the selected passage and its import for you.

Operatio: reflect on "fast”; to do without; the religious purpose of fasting in the OT was to hasten the coming of the Messiah; the religious purpose of fasting in the NT is to aid us in disciplining ourselves so that we may curb our natural appetites and replace them with spiritual ones - to grow in the virtues. In prayer ask for the grace to observe not just the few mandatory days of fasting, but to voluntarily fast from time to time so as to strengthen my spiritual muscles.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10.1-12