|
WHEREFORE as we have premised this on the conditions of fasting, it
seems well to subjoin the authority of Holy Scripture, by which it will be
more clearly proved that fasting neither can nor should be always observed.
In the Gospel when the Pharisees were fasting together with the disciples
of John the Baptist, as the Apostles, as friends and companions of the
heavenly Bridegroom, were not yet keeping the observance of a fast, the
disciples of John (who thought that they acquired perfect righteousness by
their fasts, as they were followers of that grand preacher of repentance
who afforded a pattern to all the people by his own example, as he not only
refused the different kinds of food which are supplied for man's use, but
actually altogether did without eating the bread which is common to all)
complained to the Lord and said: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft but
thy disciples fast not?" to whom the Lord in His reply plainly showed that
fasting is not suitable or necessary at all times, when any festival season
or opportunity for love intervenes and permits an indulgence in food,
saying: "Can the children of the bridegroom mourn while file bridegroom is
with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away
from them; and then shall they fast;" words which although they were
spoken before the resurrection of His Body, yet specially point to the
season of Easter-tide, in which after His resurrection for forty days He
ate with His disciples, and their joy in His daily Presence did not allow
them to fast.
|
|