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One of the major themes in
Mark’s gospel is the Kingdom of God breaking through and overcoming the
kingdom of Satan in Jesus’ ministry. Last week the struggle continued
with what was the beginning of several conflict stories in Mark’s
gospel. We heard the story of the paralyzed man. Even as the scribes
witnessed this extraordinary healing miracle, their hearts were clouded
with evil thoughts.
They could conceive of Jesus as nothing more than a blasphemer.
Mark continues with the call of Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, which
concludes with Jesus at table in Levi’s house, dining with tax
collectors and sinners. The Pharisees questioned his disciples, “Why
does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied, “Those who
are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to
call the righteous but sinners.” Again in this situation, even as the
Kingdom of God was breaking into the lives of tax collectors and
sinners, that same Kingdom became an occasion of sin for the
self-righteous Pharisees. The existing order of things was turned upside
down and inside out by the in-breaking of the kingdom in Jesus’
ministry.
Today’s passage continues. This time the disciples of John the Baptizer
and the disciples of the Pharisees ask Jesus about fasting. “Why do the
disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your
disciples do not fast?” John lived in the desert and fed on locusts and
wild honey, so his disciples fasted frequently.
The Pharisees fasted at
various times and for various reasons throughout the year. Their
disciples did likewise. Fasting was and remains a very respected
religious practice. At its best, it affords an opportunity to prioritize
spiritual and physical needs; at its worst, it can be an attempt to
manipulate God or make a public spectacle of religious practice.
The fasting question is a legitimate one which Jesus cannot evade. He
does not become embroiled in the question of frequency of fasting. He
uses a parable to take the question to another level. “Can the wedding
guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as the
bridegroom is with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when
the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that
day.” Jesus does not deny the meaning or the importance of fasting,
instead he puts it into a new context. How can they fast when the
bridegroom, the one who is to come, has arrived? Here is the one pointed
out by John as the Lamb of God. The time for fulfillment of the
Messianic prophecies has arrived. His disciples will fast when he is
taken from them and when they await his return; until then fasting
would be inappropriate.
Mark goes on to explain further the mystery of the Kingdom in the
parables of the unshrunken cloth on the old coat and the new wine in old
wineskins. The Kingdom of God is breaking into the world. Things cannot
continue as usual. One must give up what is useless or perish in the
effort to save it. Hosea reminds us that chosen people had to be led
into the desert in order to be espoused to God. There is risk in
embracing the Kingdom of God. We cannot take all of our baggage with us.
As we approach the season of Lent this week, let us pray for the grace
to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.
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