Friday 27 February 2009

Background

John the Baptist's followers seem to have been known for theseverity of their spiritual discipline. They regularly went withoutfood, practising the discipline of fasting. They also seemed tothink that others who lived God's way should do the same.

They come asking why the disciples don't go without food. But Jesushas an answer for them. He does not question the appropriateness offasting - elsewhere he teaches his disciples how to fast(eg Matthew6:16-18) - but for Jesus, everything has its time and place.There is a time to fast and a time to celebrate. The time forcelebration is now, because "the bridegroom is with" the weddingguests (verse 15), and you don't fast at a wedding.

The reason for celebration lies in what is happening around him.This brief conversation takes place during a meal. Those eatingwith him weren't respectable company - they are described as taxcollectors and sinners. Yet these 'sinful' people were turning toGod. Just before the meal, we have been told of a tax collectorcalled Matthew turning to follow Jesus (verse 9).

In another Gospel, Luke records stories of Jesus about the lostbeing found (Luke15). At the end of those stories Jesus comments that there is"joy in heaven" over a lost sinner who turns back to God (Luke 15:7, 10).What is happening at this meal is a cause for celebration, not acause for fasting, as the lost are found.

The celebratory occasion should have been obvious to John'sfollowers but Jesus does not point it out to them. Instead he tellshis short parable: you don't fast at a wedding.

Even a parable as short as this is open to various levels ofmeaning. Jesus opens it up further by referring to mourning, andthe time when the bridegroom will no longer be present. Thisinvites the thought that already Jesus is aware of the dangerousconflict in which he is involved, and what it might cost both himand his disciples.

To Ponder

What in your life might be a cause for "joy inheaven" and how might you celebrate it?

What is the value of fasting, and when is theright time to do it?