Independence Day (USA)
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:15)
Imagine that you were invited to a wedding reception where you knew there would be lots of good food. You probably wouldn’t stop at a fast-food restaurant and order a double cheeseburger, would you? That’s the kind of situation Jesus is talking about here. According to Jewish wedding customs of the time, the bridegroom would leave the bride just before the ceremony to go make sure his house was ready for her. So the party was still to come, and everybody began to get ready for it.
With that insight, perhaps you can better understand Jesus’ words about fasting. He is not asking us to mourn for him as if he were gone forever. He wants us to be watchful and ready for the day when he returns!
When we fill ourselves with the “fast-food” of this world, it can leave us with little room for the grace God wants to give us. Just as those preparing to attend a wedding are focused on the ceremony and the party afterwards, we should keep our eyes fixed on everything that Jesus has waiting for us when he comes again. This would also be a perfect attitude to have as we prepare for Mass each Sunday or as we think about our daily prayer: “I can’t wait to see what kind of joy, healing, wisdom, direction, or mercy Jesus wants to give me right now. I’d better make sure there’s room for it in my heart.”
Think about all that God has planned for you in heaven. Think about everything he has already given you in his Son. Isn’t it far more satisfying and lasting than the fanciest meal you could buy? This is a meal that he is anxious for you to taste, so don’t pass him up on his offer! You just have to make room for him and open up your heart. You’ve got your invitation—signed with the sacrifice of Jesus. What else can you say in response but, “Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will” (Psalm 40:8)?
“Lord, help me to keep my gaze on you! The more I look at you, the less everything else matters. May I desire nothing but to please you, Jesus!” Amen!
Genesis 27:1 In the course of time, after Yitz’chak had grown old and his eyes dim, so that he couldn’t see, he called ‘Esav his older son and said to him, “My son?” and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 “Look, I’m old now, I don’t know when I will die. 3 Therefore, please take your hunting gear — your quiver of arrows and your bow; go out in the country, and get me some game. 4 Make it tasty, the way I like it; and bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you [as firstborn], before I die.”
5 Rivkah was listening when Yitz’chak spoke to his son ‘Esav. So when ‘Esav went out to the country to hunt for game and bring it back,
15 Next, Rivkah took ‘Esav her older son’s best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on Ya‘akov her younger son; 16 and she put the skins of the goats on his hands and on the smooth parts of his neck. 17 Then she gave the tasty food and the bread she had prepared to her son Ya‘akov.
18 He went to his father and said, “My father?” He replied, “Here I am; who are you, my son?” 19 Ya‘akov said to his father, “I am ‘Esav your firstborn. I’ve done what you asked me to do. Get up now, sit down, eat the game, and then give me your blessing.” 20 Yitz’chak said to his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Adonai your God made it happen that way.” 21 Yitz’chak said to Ya‘akov, “Come here, close to me, so I can touch you, my son, and know whether you are in fact my son ‘Esav or not.” 22 Ya‘akov approached Yitz’chak his father, who touched him and said, “The voice is Ya‘akov’s voice, but the hands are ‘Esav’s hands.” 23 However, he didn’t detect him; because his hands were hairy like his brother ‘Esav’s hands; so he gave him his blessing. 24 He asked, “Are you really my son ‘Esav?” And he replied, “I am.” 25 He said, “Bring it here to me, and I will eat my son’s game, so that I can give you my blessing.” So he brought it up to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Yitz’chak said to him, “Come close now, and kiss me, my son.” 27 He approached and kissed him. Yitz’chak smelled his clothes and blessed Ya‘akov with these words: “See, my son smells like a field which Adonai has blessed. (vi) 28 So may God give you dew from heaven, the richness of the earth, and grain and wine in abundance. 29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be lord over your kinsmen, let your mother’s descendants bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
Psalm 135: Halleluyah!
(1) Give praise to the name of Adonai!
Servants of Adonai, give praise!
2 You who stand in the house of Adonai,
in the courtyards of the house of our God,
3 praise Yah, for Adonai is good;
sing to his name, because it is pleasant.
4 For Yah chose Ya‘akov for himself,
Isra’el as his own unique treasure.
5 I know that Adonai is great,
that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Adonai does whatever pleases him,
in heaven, on earth, in the seas, in all the depths.
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