Friday after Ash Wednesday – 19th February 2021 — Mt 9,14-15
Spiritual Comparisons
John the Baptist’s disciples seemed to compare their spiritual rigour more favourably to the laxity of Jesus’s disciples. In their austerity they question Jesus why his disciples do not fast while they and the Pharisees continue to fast. This situation brings out the saying, “comparisons are odious”. John’s disciples had been taught by John to fast and to fast often. They were fasting often on behalf of John asking God to deliver him, and they could not understand why Jesus and his disciples had not joined them in fasting for John’s release. Indeed it is a human tendency to compare oneself with others. Sometimes we see others doing less and hate them. Or maybe we find ourselves feeling embarrassed by someone who seems to be doing more. Instead of comparing, which is never advisable, we should really ask ourselves, “Am I doing what God wants me to do?”
