Friday after Ash Wednesday

On this first Friday of Lend, a day of fasting according to the Church's teaching, we are given to reflect on a gospel text where the disciples of John the Baptist came, almost scandalized, to ask Jesus why his disciples did not fast. It is possible that urged by their master to get acquainted to accepting Jesus as the Christ, they were uneasy to receive as master one who seemed to be lax on his disciples. In his answer Jesus does not deny that his disciples do not fast. As if joking he refers to a time when the bridegroom would be taken away from them. Then they would fast.

We do know that at the start of his mission Jesus fasted quite severely. We also recall when he sent the Twelve, and later, the Seventy-two on a mission on which they had to carry no provisions for themselves. It is quite likely that they did suffered hunger at times. We also recall when they rubbed corn on a Sabbath and ate, because they were hungry. Jesus and his disciples suffered hunger quite often during their ministry, such that fasting would have been superfluous.

In his answer to the disciples of John we also are reminded of the lesson we heard him give on Ash Wednesday. When you fast do not trumpet it ahead of your or pool a long face for everyone to know you are fasting. He was not likely to tell the disciples of John, "actually, we do fast, except that you do not know about it. For instance, I started my mission by fasting 40 days."

The prophet Isaiah tells us what should be manifested during this time of grace: namely, our good deeds.