Friday, February 12, 2016
12 February 2016
12 February 2016
Friday after Ash Wednesday
Violet.
Is 58: 1– 9a / Mt 9: 14 – 15
From t he 1st Reading: Is 58:5 – 9a
Is that the kind of fast that pleases me, just a day for a man to humble himself? Is fasting merely bowing down one's head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes? Would you call fasting a day acceptable to the Lord?
See the fast that pleases me: breaking the fetters of injustice and unfastening the thongs of the yoke. Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house the homeless, clothe the man you see naked and do not turn away from your own kin.
Then will your light break forth as the dawn and your healing come in a flash. Your righteousness will be your vanguard, the Glory of Yahweh your rearguard. Then you will call and Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.
Gospel Reading: Mt 9:14 - 15
Then the disciples of John came to him with the question, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?"
Jesus answered them, "How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast."
Reflection
Fasting is a practice in many religions when one abstains from food and drink. It tests one's ability for self-control. For others, it is more of a sacrifice or to atone for one's sins. Still for others, it is purely for health reasons.
For the Christian, the main purpose is to manifest his love for God. One cannot fast when Jesus is around, but one must fast if Jesus is absent from one's life. By fasting, a Christian is saying that God is important in life, not food, drink nor bodily pleasures. Yet if we continue to mistreat our fellowmen, our fasting will be for naught. One must first have good relations with others, be just in all his dealings, and be compassionate to the poor, if he wants his fasting and prayers to be acceptable to God. Those who fast but continue to mistreat others are hypocrites.
Some people fast in order to combat the devil. When a holy man is beset by many trials and temptations, fasting is a good weapon to combat the enemy, to tell the devil to his face that he is ready to fight him.
How about you? Why do you fast?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Diane Stephanie Ching
Gilbert Cheang
Lee Ochoa
Stella T. Dy
Virginia Nañagas-Bactad
IN MEMORIAM (+)
Marcus Cu (1938 – 2000)
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 7:40 AM 
