Homily for July 2nd, 2016: Matthew
9:14-17.
To understand
the question about fasting in today’s gospel we must know that in Judaism
fasting is a way of mourning. It is also a way of expressing sorrow for sin.
Still today observant Jews fast on the Day of Atonement, when God’s people fast
to express sorrow for the sins they have committed in the past year. The people
who ask Jesus why his disciples do not fast are disciples of John the Baptist.
He taught them to fast, because repentance was central in his preaching.
Responding to
the question about why Jesus has not taught his
disciples to fast, he replies simply that as long as he is with them,
fasting is inappropriate. This is a time not for mourning, Jesus says, but for
joy. God has come to earth in human form. Taking up a theme which is frequent
in the Old Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom. Israel
This invitation is renewed every time
Mass is celebrated. Despite our unworthiness God uses us priests to extend his
invitation: “Everything is ready; come to the feast.” God, the host at this
banquet, longs to have you with him. He wants to fill you with his goodness,
his power, his purity, his love.
He cannot fill you unless you come.
He cannot fill you unless you are
empty.
He
cannot fill you unless you confess your need, which means preparing by
acknowledging your unworthiness.
How
often have you heard this invitation before? How often will you hear it again?
One day you will hear it for the last
time. Then you will receive another invitation: to appear before your divine
Master, your King, your Creator, your ever loving Lord. Will that encounter fill you with
fear and dread? Or will you overjoyed to encounter a dearly loved friend? The
Lord in his goodness allows us to choose. It is the most important choice we shall
ever have.
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