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. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Reflection

Fasting: The question of fasting for Matthew’s community is a legitimate one. Using the bridal metaphor, Matthew explains that fasting is out of place during a marriage feast, a reference to the kingdom of heaven. In the prophets, God is considered the bridegroom and Israel is his bride. The fullness of the kingdom is depicted as a marriage banquet.

According to Matthew, the marriage feast reached its fullness in Jesus. He is the bridegroom and those who follow Him are the bride. By stating this, Matthew subtly declares Jesus’ divinity and re-emphasizes the proclamation of the kingdom.

Matthew also declares that fasting is still a legitimate practice, if it is done at the right times and for the right reasons. The disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting out of mourning. While upholding the practice of fasting, Matthew wants his community to realize that Jesus initiated the kingdom (new wine) and that the reason to fast must be commensurate with this fact (new wineskin).

During the time of Matthew’s church, when Jesus is no longer with them, fasting is appropriate as long as it looks forward to the culmination of the kingdom. Together, the members of the community join in fasting — not for an individual’s own merit — because they are dependent on God and upon each other. Thus fasting draws them closer together as the bride awaiting the bridegroom’s return.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.,); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.