Myopia is a commonly found eye condition.
Popularly, it is also called as “near-sightedness” or “short-sightedness”.

It is a state of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly.

Coming from the greek word, “muōpia”, which literally means “trying to see like a mole”, myopia is a condition of the eye that causes the image that one sees, when looking at a distant object, to be out of focus, but in focus when looking at a close object.

Well, this short-sightedness or myopia is limited to not just the physical eye…
It can also easily be applicable to our general outlook of life or our spiritual life.

Yes, it is often found that one becomes short-sighted in life – seeing things only as they appear at the moment, and unable to take the long view of matters.
This is “spiritual myopia”
This is “spiritual short-sightedness”

The Gospel of the day presents Jesus inviting us to become aware of the presence of a possible “spiritual myopia” in our lives and to take measures to get rid of this condition.

The passage begins with the statement.. “You have heard that it was said….. But I say to you”

It must be borne in mind that the region in and around the ministry of Jesus, was multicultural and multilingual.
Under the Roman Empire, there was an infusion of languages… Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew…

Many of the common people of Israel usually spoke in Aramaic or Greek and perhaps Latin.
In this multi-linguistic situation, the reading and understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures (which was in Hebrew) was mainly by the religious leaders of the time – the Pharisees and the Scribes.

This therefore gave them the chance to interpret the Scriptures in a manner that reflected their own personal and biased teachings.
As time passed, this style of interpretation finally led to the situation that just observing the Law in an outward allegiance was sufficient in fulfilling God’s demands.

The fulfilment of following the Law was reduced to a mere external practise.
The spirit of the law was sacrificed for the letter of the law!
The inner dimensions and requirements were abandoned.

A “spiritual myopia” had crept in…
A “spiritual short-sightedness” had overpowered them…

•       They were fixed only to doing the stipulations, but failed to live the spirit of the Law
•       They were limited to a vision of doing only the externals, but got blind to the internals.

And therefore, Jesus warns the people to be aware of this “spiritual myopia” and to see beyond..
…to the real requirements of the law
…to the core of God’s commandments

Jesus attacks the method of interpreting Scripture with a limited vision and perspective…
He contrasts the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law with the law’s real meaning, by using the formula : “You have heard that it was said to those of old. . . . But I say to you . . .”

Six times in the second half of Matthew 5, Jesus uses this formula…speaking about…
… anger (Mt 5: 21-22)
… adultery (Mt 5: 27-28)
… divorce (Mt 5: 31-32)
… oaths (Mt 5: 33-34)
… retaliation (Mt 5: 38-39)
… loving enemies (Mt 5: 43-44)

•       Each time Jesus described the “limited” interpretation of the law…and each time He “broadened” the vision of the law.
•       Each time Jesus put forth the “myopic” explanation of the law…and each time, He “enlarged” the understanding of the law.

Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual myopia”?
… limited in my vision of the love of God and failing to extend His charitable love to all
… limited in my vision of the law of God and being stuck to my egoistic interpretations
… limited in my vision of the mercy of God and blocking it from reaching our enemies.

Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual short-sightedness”?
… having eyes fixed only on materialistic aspects and failing to see heavenly realities
… having eyes fixed only on what happens externally and failing to understand inner facts
…having eyes fixed only on being pious outside and failing to have a genuine intimacy within

In the Nazareth Manifesto, at the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus declared that He has been sent, “to proclaim…recovery of sight to the blind…” (Lk 4:18)

Let us seek the grace of the Lord, to touch our eyes, and help us be healed of our spiritual “myopia”

God Bless ! Live Jesus!

The phrase “(to) raise the bar,” or “raising the bar,” is an expression used to convey the idea of gradually setting the accepted minimum standards higher in order to achieve an objective or level of excellence.

 
This term came into common usage through the tracks and field sports event of high jumping and pole vaulting.

Ø In these events, the athletes run and jump, to propel themselves over the obstacles (the bar).

Ø In each subsequent round of competition, the bar is raised, making the target more challenging.

 
The athlete who displays the greatest stamina and successfully crosses the highest bar wins the event.

 
Jesus is an amazing “athlete” who raises the bar of Christian living.

He invites all His followers to also follow Him in living a “higher” standard of life.

The Gospel, over the next few days, shows the manner in which Jesus “raises the bar” of certain areas of Christian living…

Today He deals with the important dimension of anger.

 
Killing is considered to be a serious evil in every society and every religion.

 
Killing in its basic form is usually considered only in the sense of the physical body.

 
But the Lord today “raises” the bar” in the understanding of killing…

“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment’. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to the judgment….” (Mt 5: 21)

 
The Lord expands the understanding of killing beyond the physical body…

 
A person engages in killing… if, by anger…

…the social standing of the other person is upset

…the emotional state of the other person is wounded

…the spiritual balance of the other person is disturbed      

We could understand anger from various perspectives…

 
>> Anger as Quick temper

Prov 15:18 says, “An ill-tempered man stirs up strife…”

 
It is said that speak when one is angry, one makes the best speech that would be regretted much!

 
Quick temper sometimes…

…. forms part of our temperament

… comes even unknowingly

… is instigated by other’s actions
 

Yet, in all this, one ought to…

… rise quickly from remaining in the state of anger.

… become conscious of the occasions which can excite anger

… see that the temper is not fed or nurtured or intensified
 

>> Anger which leads to stubbornness

Eph 4:26: “…. do not let the sun to set on your anger”

Sometimes, the anger within is allowed to grow so much…

…that we get habituated to getting angry for even tiny and trivial matters

…that we lose our peace of mind, and sometimes even become indifferent

…that we choose not to budge from our position or viewpoint and remain adamant

Yet, we need to make efforts…

… to try to overcome our ego and self mentality and seek to make amends with the person

… to lower oneself in humility (even if we are right) and ease the situation of annoyance

 
Anger needs to be sanctified…channelled in the proper way!

 
One may feel a ‘just’ anger at….

… the immense corruption in the world and even in religious circles

… the forces of evil that seem to root away even faint traces of hope

… the indifferent and unchanging attitudes and temperaments of people which is sickening.

Yet… 
…. even these ought to get channelled properly

…even these ought to be routed in the right manner

 
Yes… even our just anger needs to be sanctified and purified in the burning furnace of God’s Love.
 

>> Anger is indeed a major tendency that is a cause of distress for many of us.

>> Anger is indeed a prime inclination that is a root of sin for many of us.

Let this season of Lent be a time of making genuine, practical and realistic efforts in the fight to sanctify and purify our anger.

 
Yes, the Lord is “raising the bar” higher… of holiness, of sanctity, of perfection.

Undoubtedly…

… it is painstaking

… it requires deeper attempts

… it requires committed determination!
 

But the Lord assures His grace to help us and His Love to encourage us!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 

·       A little child of four years, constantly asks the mother to allow him to play a game ‘fire-fire’ with his friends, which involves using matchsticks and papers
 
·       A little boy seeks permission from the father to allow him to put out his head, to feel the strong breeze, as their car drives across very fast through the city

·       A little girl of five, is insistent in wanting to cut onions, with a sharp knife, just as her mother does.

 

What do you think would be the answer of the parent in the above situations?

Would they allow….Yes?….. or No?

 

Surely, No…right?

All of the above situations involved some danger…

All the above situations involves some risk..

And so, the parent, in the full interest and care of the child, would outrightly deny permission.

 

The parent would try to explain…

… that playing would fire, is dangerous pastime

…that putting the head out of the speeding vehicle would be fatal

…that trying to use the sharp knife can result in accidental cuts and wounds.

 

But would the child understand?

In some cases…they might.

But in many cases…perhaps, No!

The child would start weeping…crying…throwing tantrums!

They would even yell… even wail saying…

 “Why do you deny me?”…”You don’t give me what I want”.. “You don’t understand me”..etc..

 

Is the parent really bad in denying the child?

Is the parent wanting to make the child sad by giving what is asked?

Certainly No!

 

It is, in fact, out of deep love that the demands are not fulfilled as per the child’s desire.

It is, in fact, out of much care that the query are not answered as per the child’s wants.

 

Very often, is this not, our relationship too, in our prayer experience with God?

·       We ask God for fulfilment of certain aspects…but we don’t seem to have it rewarded in the way we wish.

·       We ask God for an answer in certain problems…but we don’t seem to get the solution in the manner we expect.

And so sometimes, we get agitated…we get irritated…we even lose our faith and trust!

The Gospel of the day presents the teaching of Jesus on having a proper attitude and disposition in prayer.

 

The Lord gives the analogy of the human father to expound the right understanding we should have with respect to prayer: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him” (Mt 7: 11)

 

The Lord is clear in proclaiming that the God our Father would very surely bestow “good” things on His children.

“Good” things….

“Good” not from our perspective…but from the way God looks at it.

“Good” not from the way we understand…but from the manner God sees it.

Just as the child who thinks is asking “good” things…we too ask many “good ” things..

But… 

… sometimes we are denied

…sometimes we are given after a while

…sometimes we are given something else

 

The denial…or the delay…or the different…is not because God wants to make us sad…

It’s simply because God loves us much deeply and cares much abundantly!

 
Yes, it is God’s pure love and unfathomable wisdom which sometimes causes…

…denials in our prayers

…delays in what we ask for

…differences in our demands and wants      

>> What seems proper for us, in God’s amazing understanding, might not be proper!

>> What seems good for us, in God’s immeasurable wisdom, might not be good!

>> What seems just for us, in God’s glorious insight, might not be just!

 

Ø Are we ready to grow in our trust in God, our Father, who knows and cares for us immensely?

Ø Are we ready to build our faith in God, our Father, who will take us through any situation in life?

 

Let’s trust in God more and more…because we can only see a little bit down the road, but God can see every curve!

Let’s trust in God more and more…because we can only see the struggling caterpillar, but God can see the beautiful butterfly!

Let’s trust in God more and more…because we can only see the dark dismal clouds, but God can see the bright sunrays waiting to shine forth!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

>> Thriller Movies have a great audience….

>> Reality Shows have a wide range of popularity…

>> Programmes with sensational appeal have a massive demand…

Our age loves to be tingled with breathtaking visuals and magnificent signs.

Check out the number of videos and movies and songs we have on our gadgets…

>> Look at the wide range of photos that we shoot and the selfies we click (which perhaps never we may see again!)
 

The demand of our external senses is very high in our generation…
 

A fallout of this excess is also reflected in our Spirituality and our Religious Outlook….

“We seek for greater external signs and wondrous miracles, even to believe in God!”

 

And the Lord thunders in today’s Gospel Reading, “This is a wicked generation… it is asking for a sign…”
 

Signs are not bad.

>> Symbols are not without meaning.

>>> External expressions are not unwarranted. 

 
They certainly do have their proper place and a meaningful nature.

 

The Bible is not alien to signs and wonders…

>> Moses’ rod became a serpent; 

>> The Red Sea parted so that God’s people could cross.

>> Water flowed from a rock when Moses struck it.

>> Manna fell from the sky to feed God’s people.

>> Baalam’s ass spoke.

>> Aaron ‘s rod blossomed.

>> The sun stood still at Joshua’s command.

>> Gideon’s fleece became wet and dry according to his request to the Lord. 

>> Elijah pronounced a drought upon the land… And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain …

The examples are plenty plenty more……..

  

But…

… when outward signs fail to generate any positive emotions..they divorce from their intention…

…when signs stop being an aid to increase in faith…they lose their meaning

…when symbols cease to be a passage for inner understanding….they fail in their purpose.

 

And this is the reason that Jesus condemns the Pharisaic mentality of Seeking for a Sign…
 

>> They sought a sign ….in order to test…but not to believe…

>> They asked a sign….in order to satisfy curiosity…but not to trust

>> They demanded a sign…in order to scheme evil talks… but not to have faith.

 
Signs become mere external fancies.
>> Miracles become mere magic shows

 

The Gospels are not alien to such false and untrue demands…

•At the Birth of Jesus, King Herod sought to see Baby Jesus…
… not to worship…but to kill Him!

•At the Temptation, Satan tempted to change stones to bread…
… not to believe…but to lure Him!

•At the Trial, King Herod Antipas hoped Him to perform a sign…
… not to save Him..but to mock Him!

 

Jesus condemns all such unnecessary demands for a sign and external phenomenon.

“…but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah the Prophet!”

 

>> The Prophets of Old, performed many miracles.
… Jesus also did.

>> The Prophets of Old, even performed the great miracles of raising the Dead.
… Jesus also did. 

>>The Prophets of Old, were never able to raise themselves from the dead.
… But Jesus rose!

Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish, so was Jesus in the belly of the earth!

>> But Jesus rose….and that has become indeed, the Greatest Sign of all times!

The Pharisees demanded a sign….Jesus answered with a sign…the greatest of them all..His Resurrection!

And yet……yet, DID THEY BELIEVE?

The answers can be speculated.

 

But the question is..

Am  I believing?

>> Am  I believing and living, the Power of the Resurrection in my life?

>> Have I reduced the reality of Jesus being Alive, to a mere expression of the lips?

>> Do I also display this Sign in my life, my activities, my words etc – that Jesus is Risen?!

 
Let us not be carried away by mere External Glitz and Glamour…

>> Let us open our eyes to see the many wonders and miracles the Lord has worked in our lives!

>> Let us become aware to see that He is Risen, and Alive and Working…in amazing ways…in our Life!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Most of us have seen those advertisements or billboards which announce some bumper offer or sale.

 
For example…

Ø Winter Sale on branded clothing: Up to 50%  off!*

Ø Buy a new house, at just Rs 1000!*

Ø Buy one pizza, get one free!*

But, a point to be noted is that most of these advertisements of offers and goodies also have a “tiny asterisk – * ” sign next to it.
 

What does the * refer to?

>> It has a catch in it…. Conditions Apply!

 

The offer is valid, only on the basis of some conditions.

>> The sale is applicable, only on the agreement of some special terms.

 

Well, the Gospel of the Day is the prayer of the Our Father.

>> And one of the offer that is mentioned in the Our Father is that of Forgiveness.

However, this offer of Forgiveness has an “asterisk *” sign attached to it…

>> Yes… Conditions apply!

 

What is the offer?

>> The Forgiveness from God!

 

And what is the condition applied to receive this offer of forgiveness?

>> We, first need to forgive others!

 

The Gospel of the Day is part of the Sermons on the mount in the Gospel of St Matthew.

>> Jesus is presenting His teaching on various Christian themes.

In His teaching on prayer, Jesus teaches the beautiful prayer – The Our Father.

 
The Our Father has seven petitions:

1. Hallowed be thy name

2. Thy Kingdom come

3. Thy Will be done

4. Give us today our daily bread

5. Forgive us our sins

6. Lead us not into temptation

7. Deliver us from evil.

 

The fifth petition  – for forgiveness – is also accompanied with a clause – “…as we forgive”..

“…and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Mt 6:12)

…forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us!

…forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us!

 
Well, does this mean God’s forgiveness is conditional?

 
It needs to be understood, that God , in His infinite mercy and goodness, has always the store of forgiveness, unconditionally opened for us!

 
But to receive this treasure of forgiveness, we need to first forgive others!

>> To receive this grace of pardon, we need to first pardon others!

 
It means that…

>>         If we harbour a wrong against other…

 >>       If we continue to nurture hatred against other…

>>        If we wilfully fail to extend absolution to the other…

>>        If we adamantly keep having repulsion against the other…

                … then we are telling God to not forgive me either!

                … then we are telling God to not shower His blessing on me!

                … then we are telling God to withhold His unconditional mercy on me!

                … then we are telling God to stop extending His unconditional compassion!

 

The prayer – “Our Father” is indeed one of the most easily learnt and widely used prayers.

 
Ø But this clause of the prayer, which is often overlooked, also makes this prayer dangerous!

Ø This clause of the prayer, which is often not thought of, also makes this prayer challenging!

·       Let the prayer ‘Our Father’ make us to make inroads into forgiving others!

·       Let the prayer ‘Our Father’ make us to march forward into extending pardon to others!

 
Let this beautiful prayer also become a really meaningful one!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 

Many hunters use their abilities with bow and arrows, guns and spears to kill monkeys.

>> But some native people have another simple yet effective style to trap them.

 

The hunter searches the jungles for a large-sized, wild gourd (= a fleshy, typically large fruit/vegetable with a hard skin).

 

After the gourd had dried for several weeks, the hunter would cut a two-inch hole in the side.

>> The insides of the gourd would then be taken out, leaving an empty hard-shelled trap…

 

After finding the right place in the jungle, where there were plenty of monkeys, the hunter would hang the trap from a tree.

>> In the centre of the gourd-trap, several handfuls of peanuts would be placed…

 

In a short time, the curious monkeys would scamper over to see what the man had left behind.

A short glance and a long sniff would reveal to the monkeys that one of their favourite items was conveniently close by – and easy to get!

 

One monkey would venture first.

>> He would look the gourd over well.

 

The gourd was a common sight and would not rouse many questions, and inside he would discover wonderful, plump peanuts.

 

What more could a monkey ask for?

 

Into the gourd, went the monkey’s hand, grasping a few peanuts, and then slowly, he would ease out his hand.

 

Easy pickings!

>> He got a handful and they were so good!

 

In would go again his little hand, and not wanting to miss out on this free offer!

>> But his hand , with many peanuts, was now too big, to get back out of the hole.

 

When he tried to pull back his hand, it would not come out through the gourd’s hole.

>> He would pull and pull but to no avail.

> He was caught!

 

It would never dawn on him to let go of the peanuts!

 

There he would be captured until the hunter would return and easily kill the monkey.

 >> His own selfishness had bound him to the trap.

 

 

Temptations in our life, is also, so often similar…

>> We get trapped in our own selfishness!

> We get ensnared in our own greediness!

 

The Gospel of the Day, on this first Sunday of Lent, is an account, from the Gospel of St Luke, of how Jesus resisted temptations and emerged victorious by the power of the Spirit, to proclaim the Gospel of God!

 

“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit, through the wilderness…” (Lk 4: 1)

 

·       In Jesus, we encounter a God who has a very human face – sharing in sufferings, partaking in miseries and participating in hardships.

 

·       In Christ, we have a God who understands us in our weak moments, consoles us in our painful situations and who empathizes with us in our trials and temptations.

 

Jesus knows what it is like to struggle with temptations and enticements…

>> Because He Himself was tempted!

 

Jesus knows what it is like to ward off the beasts of our vices and evil tendencies…

>> Because He Himself was among wild beasts!

 

Yet, in all His trials, He emerged victorious and triumphant!

Ø He did not succumb to the allurements of Satan…

Ø He did not fall for the traps of the Evil One…

Ø He did not yield to the inducements of the Devil…

 

The reason?

>> He had a tremendous infilling of the Holy Spirit!

>> He had a unshaken determination to be focused on doing God’s Will!

>> He had a indomitable resolve of being faithful and true to His mission and commitment!

 

And these reasons of Jesus are also the techniques for us to overcome the power of temptations….

> Can I grow continually in the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

> Can I learn to, despite any hardships, constantly seek and do only God’s Will?

> Can I cultivate the steadfastness to be singly focussed on the mission of His Kingdom?

 

We live in a world which is often, like a wilderness…

.. dry in spiritual fervour… heated up with material desires…arid in religious enthusiasm

 

We live in a world where there are often, many wild beasts…

…ferociously corrupt and unhealthy practices…menacingly abusive evil lifestyles

 

 

We need to resist the temptations arising from such situations and stand firm in our focus and commitment to the Lord and His Kingdom.

 

Let us not get caught up in the snares of temptation…instead be victorious and triumphant in the Grace and Power of Jesus, our Saviour, Model and Master!

 

>> Selfish desires can trap us…

… but being selfless in the Spirit will help us!

 

>> Greedy longings can confine us…

… but Godly leanings can strengthen us!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Been to a general physician for a check-up?

>> Well, I guess, most of us have been.

One of the simple techniques that a physician employs, to assess whether the person is sick, is by checking the person’s tongue.
 

The colour of the tongue, its size and shape, the colour and thickness of its coating, locations of abnormalities and moistness/ dryness of the tongue…
… all these could give some indications of the overall health and any disharmonies.

St Francis de Sales, mentions about this aspect, in his book, ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’…

“Doctors get a good knowledge of the health or the illness of a man by examining his tongue.

Our words are signs of the qualities of our souls”

Yes, the state of the tongue reveals the state of the health of the person.

>> The condition of the tongue gives an indication of the well-being or illness in a person.

Similarly, the words, which the tongue speaks, reveal the state of our inner life.

>> Our speech, which the tongue utters, reveal the condition of our spiritual life.

The Gospel of the Day is an account of Jesus, the Great Physician of Galilee, in His rounds of healing sick patients, and who is encountered by some critical persons who reveal a dark side of human life by their “slanderous and harsh” tongues!

Levi, the tax-collector heeds the call of the Lord “to follow Him” ( Lk 5:27)

In his great happiness of being accepted and the joy of following his new-found love, Levi hosts a grand party.

>> This feast is a wonderful time of sharing for various other tax collectors as well.

But this time of joy and happiness, becomes an occasion for some people to “wag their tongues” in negative talks and remarks!

 
As the saying goes…where two or three are gathered with a vicious and malicious
mind, there is the assassination of the character of few people!

The Pharisees and their scribes, seeing Jesus sharing the joyful companionship of the tax collectors, began to murmur and grumble: 

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Lk 5: 30)

 
Jesus clarifies His mission of coming to the world to heal the sick and to cure the ill. (Lk 5:31)
 

He is the Great Physician of Galilee.

This Great Physician, clearly examines the “tongues” of the Pharisees and the Scribes and identifies their sickness…

Ø Their tongues spoke ill of people who were being saved.

Ø Their tongues criticized the people who were given a redeeming status in the society.

Ø Their tongues lashed at out the Lord who came to bring acceptance and love to the outcast.

 
·       The words that their tongues uttered revealed the low-state of their life.

·       The words that their tongues spoke revealed the negativity that was widespread in their life.

 
The Great Physician today wishes to examine our own tongues: our words and our speech.

>> Are we also persons whose tongues lash out in harsh criticism and rash judgements?

>> Are we also persons whose tongues hit out in negative comments and unkind criticism?

 
The Great Physician is here to heal us…
… Our tongues easily reveal our sicknesses to Him.

This time of the Lent is a great opportunity for us, to improve in this area of our life.

The Great Physician has His prescriptions ready….

Ø His Holy Word, which can sweeten our tongues with patience and charity.

Ø His Holy Eucharist, which can cleanse our tongues in sanctity and holiness.

Let us be healed and cleansed by the Divine Touch of the Great Physician!

God bless! Live Jesus!

Dengue and malaria are fatal sicknesses that have affected a large number of people, all over the world.  

>> These dreaded sicknesses, are mosquito-borne infections that can cause severe-flu like illness.

One of the causes of steep rise of mosquitoes is the accumulation of stagnant water.

>> Stagnant water is a favourite breeding-ground for mosquito larvae, which leads to the spread of dengue.

When there is stagnancy, there is a greater chance of sicknesses to spread!

 
This simple aspect can be very well applied to human minds and human actions as well…

>> A stagnant mind becomes the breeding ground for laziness, obstinacy and lethargy!

>> A stagnant action becomes the breeding ground for lukewarmness and listlessness!

There is no vitality in stagnancy…

>> There is no vivacity in sluggishness…

>>> There is no exuberance in dormancy…

The Gospel of the Day presents this attitude of lifelessness and inertness due to the stagnant practice of an important devotion, namely fasting!

 

The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus with an important query:”Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” (Lk 9:14)
 

The Mosaic Law commanded only one day of fasting – the day of Atonement.

The Book of Leviticus prescribes this fast: 

“On the tenth day of the seventh month…you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. In the presence of God you will be made clean of all your sins.

It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths. You must fast. It is a perpetual ordinance” (Lev 16:29-31)

 
But it is to be noted that the Pharisees and apparently, the disciples of John had also adopted another tradition: that of fasting two days a week.

>> This was considered to be a very pious and pride action among this group.
 

In Luke 18:12, we find the Pharisee who boasts of fasting twice a week, as he makes his prayer, in contempt of the tax collector.

 
It is to this fasting, that the disciples of John refer to, when they counter Jesus with the question: “Why don’t your disciples fast?”

But Jesus opens their eyes to see the stagnancy in their thought and practice.

·       The practice of fasting was for atonement of one’s sins.

·       The practise of fasting was a time of mourning in seeking for the restoration of Israel.

·       The practice of fasting was a time of waiting for the Messiah who would redeem their nation.

But somehow all these basic aspects of fasting were forgotten and apparently, lost.

·       Their practise of fasting had grown stagnant.

·       Their mindset in skipping meals had become sluggish.

·       They failed to realise the reason and meaning for their fasting.

The Lord declares Himself as the Bridegroom, who has come to restore the glory of Israel. (Mt 9:15)
 
> The time of mourning is over.

>> The period of fasting is no longer.

It’s time to rejoice with Him, who is the Bridegroom and Saviour – Jesus!

Yes, when one loses sight of the original purpose, the actions become mere lifeless customs.

>> When one fails to know the actual motive, the conduct becomes a mere obsolete ritual.

>> A custom, devoid of its purpose and real intention is dead and decayed.

>> A tradition, conducted without the true motivation is irrelevant and trivial.

>> A ritual, performed without knowledge of true meaning is an immaterial routine.  

The Season of Lent calls for us to make extra sacrifices, especially through the form of fasting.

>> What is my attitude to fasting and penance?

Has it become stagnant…
… devoid of its original purpose of sanctification and growing in closeness to God?
 
Has it become stagnant…
… becoming a mere yearly custom and tradition with no effect on one’s life?
 

Am I ready to undertake the powerful style of fasting as presented in Isaiah 58: 6-7:

A fasting…

… to lose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the thongs of the yoke

…  to let the oppressed go free and to share the bread with the hungry

… to bring homeless poor into the house and to cover the naked

Our fasting, penances and sacrifices are to be a joyful one…
… because we have Jesus, the bridegroom with us.

>> His presence with us, is a matter of joy; 
… yet we fast and do penance, to share joyfully in His suffering and pain.

>> His presence with us, is an occasion of rejoicing;
… yet we make sacrifices and discipline ourselves, to find deeper meaning in His Cross.
 

>> His presence with us, is a period of celebration; 
… yet we have self-control and abstain oneself, to be united closer to His redeeming action.

Let us not get stagnant.

>> Let us, instead, open our eyes to the real purpose meaning of our fasting and our acts of penance.
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!