St Mark 2:18-22
Fasting was a fact of life for many Jews, although the only Fast day mandatory in the Jewish calendar was the great day of Atonement. Some Pharisees made a great spectacle of it painting their face white and wearing tattered old clothing. It was not so much about the discipline of fasting and denial but about drawing attention to the fact they were fasting that day. Jesus likens his group of followers to those who share in the wedding feast – people intent on being joyful because God has blessed them. In the second part of this piece for today (20-22) he reminds the people always to be open-minded in their living. The old ideas might not accommodate the new therefore they have to be prepared to take on what the new means.
Fasting was a fact of life for many Jews, although the only Fast day mandatory in the Jewish calendar was the great day of Atonement. Some Pharisees made a great spectacle of it painting their face white and wearing tattered old clothing. It was not so much about the discipline of fasting and denial but about drawing attention to the fact they were fasting that day. Jesus likens his group of followers to those who share in the wedding feast – people intent on being joyful because God has blessed them. In the second part of this piece for today (20-22) he reminds the people always to be open-minded in their living. The old ideas might not accommodate the new therefore they have to be prepared to take on what the new means.