An Appropriate Time for Fasting

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Feasting and Fasting

Psalm 69:5-18  The Message

Matthew 9:9-17  The Message

⁹ Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.
^10-11 Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?”
^12-13 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

Kingdom Come

¹⁴ A little later John’s followers approached, asking, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees rigorously discipline body and spirit by fasting, but your followers don’t?”

¹⁵ Jesus told them, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!”
^16-17 He went on, “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles.”

 
For Reflection

The Bible is a book of truth.  Both of these stories the truth is found in the answers to fundamental questions.  Each of the answers is intended to reveal a major difference in Christian practice as contrasted to the traditional Jewish practice signified by the Pharisees.

The first answer indicates that Christianity is intended for all people.  There are no insiders to whom privileged favor is given.   The second instance shows that adherence ritualistic or institutionalized religious practice is not the only way to worship.  In the practice of the Way the celebration of joy should be extravagant.   The fast may still be practiced, but the fabric of the faith as practiced by the followers of Christ is not obligated to follow any single form of institutionalized ritual.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for salvation from the crippling bounds of institutionalized religious conventions.  Pray for all those who serve the Lord with witness to the freedom found in the Way of Christ.  Pray to be free to recognize that the unity of God's church does not mean uniformity of worship.  Pray to worship God.