Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. Mk 2,19
Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are the three main pious practices of a religion. In this passage for today, Jesus takes up the issue of fasting for discussion.
Jesus raises a question and answers it as well. Usually when he raises a question he would always expect his listeners to answer. (Like, in the case of good Samaritan or in the parable of the two brothers who were asked to go the farm to work etc.) Here he answers it all by himself.
Here the issue is about fasting and celebration. Both cannot co-exist. One is opposed to the other.
So a religion has these two aspects: fasting and feasting. Jesus also accepts this. But what he says is that these two cannot be patched up.
Jesus presence in this world is a time of celebration. He is the bridegroom who has come into the world.
As long as he is in the world there is no fasting. Probably that is why he also says: No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” Mk 2, 21-22.
Christian religion is a celebrating religion
because Jesus is within.
Is there Jesus around?
