During the forty days of Lent, we are given a precious opportunity to renew once again our commitment to spending time with our God in prayer. In this sense, spending time simply means being in the presence of God so that he can share His wisdom with us - like a father might do with his children - and so that we can benefit from these lessons in order to enrich our own lived experience of faith.
In the gospel passage proposed for today's liturgy, the disciples of John came to Jesus and asked, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast much but your disciples do not fast? (Mt 9:14). Jesus' answer to this question helps us to understand the precious opportunity that we have been given during this Lenten season. He says: Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? (Mt 9:15). While Jesus was with the disciples, they had the precious opportunity to sit in his presence every day, to soak up his wisdom, to ask questions and to make his wisdom their own.
The opportunity that was afforded to the disciples is also offered to us. This precious season of Lent is an invitation for each of us to spend time with Jesus - the bridegroom - in prayer. The more opportunities we find to do this, the more we will be able to discover the joy that comes from being with Him, and the more our hearts will be nourished with the special food of His presence. Having fed our hearts with his precious food, when the time comes for us to mourn - to face moments of doubt - our souls will be able to endure because we have been enriched through the discipline of spending time in His presence.
Have a great day.
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