9.04.14

Lectio:  Lk 5.33-39             

Meditatio: “But the days will; come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Lk 5.35

Oratio: O God, fasting is one of the praised ascetical practices but it is not an absolute and it is done for a purpose.

I remember Jesus told His critics that the reason His disciples do not fast, is that He, the bridegroom is present, and it would not be appropriate. But when He is no longer with them, they would fast so in this we see that one of the purposes of fasting is to hasten the coming of the Messiah and since Jesus was the Messiah, there was on need to fast.                                           

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "bridegroom...taken away...will fast”; fasting is a practice performed to atone or to hasten the coming of God’s kingdom; since with Jesus, God’s kingdom had arrived, His disciples were excused from fasting; but when He leaves, fasting will resume for the purpose of atonement and for the purpose of the kingdom remaining strong. In prayer ask for the grace to make fasting one of your on-going spiritual practices for it is a practice which is much in need today for the health of the kingdom on earth and for your own spiritual health.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 6.1-5