Jesus' Presence is the Difference!

The LORD bless you and keep you!  The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!  The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

In the Gospel of Mark (2: 18-22) for today’s Mass, Jesus talks about fasting.  The Catholic Church historically observes the disciplines of fasting and abstinence at various times each year.  For Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one’s intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from meat (or another type of food).  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.  In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.  Unless the Friday falls on a Solemnity (and some Feast days).

Throughout the Catholic Church’s Liturgical Year, there are many days we call special attention to – whether labeled a “Memorial,” a “Feast,” or a “Solemnity.”  Solemnities are the celebrations of greatest importance and typically include all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  Feasts are of second importance and are celebrated on a particular day, however, they are not necessarily days of obligation for Catholics.  And lastly are Memorials, which typically commemorate a saint or saints.

In His response to those asking about the fact that His disciples didn’t fast as the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees did, Jesus claimed that the reason His disciples didn’t fast was His very presence with them (Mark 2: 18-22).  He’s the difference!  In His examples of a garment patch or a need for new wineskin, Jesus invited His disciples (and us) to be open to new ways of thinking and acting. 

Jesus constantly invites us, His disciples, into new ways of thinking and acting.  He asks us to trust God in every aspect of our lives because God is our loving Father.  Jesus wants us to realize how deeply He loves us, so gives His very life for us.  He tells us that love and forgiveness, even or maybe especially, for those who have injured us or are our enemies are the only paths to peace, either personal or communal.  Jesus teaches us that it is in caring for the poor, homeless, hurting, oppressed or outcast that we build the Kingdom of God.  Many of us disciples of Jesus cherish these teachings but few of us are able to live them fully.  It seems our ways of thinking and our imaginations are just too small to free us to risk living fully the example and teachings of Jesus.