First Reading Isaiah 58: 1-9a
Thus saith the Lord God, 'Speak firmly, do not withhold!
Nyaringkanlah thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins! Indeed, each day they seek me and delight to know everything my way. As a nation that applies the correct and does not leave the law of his God they ask me about the true laws. They delight in approaching to God, and said, "We are fasting, why have you not noticed too? We humble ourselves, why do not you pay attention?" Take care! On the day of your fast you still taking care of business, and you are urged urged all laborer his. Behold, you fast while arguing and fighting and hit with fists with arbitrarily. With such fast way to make your voice heard on high. Is this the fasting Kukehendaki: held today grovel? lowered his head like a reed? and spread sackcloth and ashes as a mat to sleep? Is that what you mentioned fasting, held a day acceptable to the Lord? Not! Fasting is' I desire: You must open the fetters of wickedness and untie their ropes yoke; distribute your bread with the hungry and bring to your house the poor who have no home, and when you see the naked, that thou mayest give him clothes, and do not hide yourself against your own brother! Then your light will break out like the dawn and your wound will heal quickly. Truth be a row before you, and the glory of the Lord rearward. At that time you will call, and the Lord will answer, you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
Thus saith the Lord.
Psalm Ps 51: 3-4.5-6a.18-19
Despondent heart you will not spurn vile, O God.
* Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to the magnitude of grace - Mu blot out my transgressions Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
* For I am aware of my transgressions, my sin is always looming in front of me Against you, you alone I sinned,
evil in thy sight I did.
* Lord, You is not pleased with the sacrifice; -persembah-ku if the burnt sacrifice, you do not like it. Persembahanku to thy soul is destroyed. A broken and contrite heart you will not spurn vile, O God.
Introduction to the Gospel Am 5:14
Seek good and not evil, that you may live, and God will be with you.
Gospel reading Matthew 9: 14-15
On one occasion John's disciples came to Jesus and said,
"Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?"
Jesus answered them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast."
Thus the Gospel of the Lord.
Devotional.
Every religion has a tradition of fasting associated with about eating and drinking. The question is, how fast kah correct according to the teachings of the Catholic Church? What is the reason we fast and abstain? For Catholics, fasting and abstinence is a sign of repentance, self-denial and the expression of the will to unite our sacrifice with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in reparation for our sins.
During Lent, fasting, abstinence and prayer accompanied by charity. Therefore abstinence and fasting is a spiritual practice that draws us closer to God and neighbor, and not other purposes, such as in order to stay slim, powerful, save and so forth.
If we understand the purpose of fasting, we will be wise and will not ask as disciples of John's disciples, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?" , the background of these questions are strict rules about fasting time. In other words, the implementation of the fast must be born from the heart instead of mere rules.
For Jesus, this opportunity is a good time to teach them about the true fasting. Fasting should be done for future needs eg mourning or expectation. Jesus described the mourning period is when the bridegroom is taken from the middle of the companions. That's when they will fast, and the bridegroom is Jesus Christ. While the bridegroom is with the disciples, of course they did not fast
tem contemplation.
We need to realize and understand that fasting is also concerned about the attitude and align our will with God's will which confirmed the prophet Isaiah: "Fasting is' I desire: You must open the fetters of wickedness and untie their ropes yoke; distribute your bread with the hungry and bring to your house the poor who have no home, and when you see the naked, that thou mayest give him clothes, and do not hide yourself against your own brother!
Let fasting and abstinence are willed by God, and not to our taste.
Prayer.
Yes God is benevolent, guide us and lead your people to be able to perform fast and abstinence according to your will. Amen.
We need to realize and understand that fasting is also concerned about the attitude and align our will with God's will which confirmed the prophet Isaiah: "Fasting is' I desire: You must open the fetters of wickedness and untie their ropes yoke; distribute your bread with the hungry and bring to your house the poor who have no home, and when you see the naked, that thou mayest give him clothes, and do not hide yourself against your own brother!
Let fasting and abstinence are willed by God, and not to our taste.
Prayer.
Yes God is benevolent, guide us and lead your people to be able to perform fast and abstinence according to your will. Amen.
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