Isaiah 58:1-9a
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
Matthew 9:14-15
When we were children and a special celebration was coming up for my mother, we would ask her what we could get for her. Her response was always the same, "Just be good." It sounded too boring and hard. It would be easier to buy something for her and just have it over with.
This year when New Year's Day was approaching I made a resolution. It seemed appropriate and made me happy, too. The older I get, the more I realize that God has a wonderful sense of humor, for within hours He made me realize that this was not to be my resolution. Mine was easier and I hadn't learned yet.
Now that Lent is here, we are asked to fast. Now that "the bridegroom has been taken from us" (Matthew 9:15), we can choose how we want to fast.
But perhaps it is more appropriate to see what God wants us to do as part of our "being good."
Remember the words of our Blessed Mother at the Wedding at Cana:
"Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5)
Let's pray on that.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
