Then they will fast

“The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (MT 9: 14-15) 

Our Lord gave us a perfect strategy for the moments when “the bridegroom is taken away from” us or when we feel abandoned, misunderstood and c0mpletly lonely—this is a time for fasting. When we have a difficult time in our marriage, when we have no time for ourselves, when we do not talk about ourselves at all, when our rituals are gone—that is the time for fasting, e.g. by leaving something important for ourselves to do–something important for our spouse. 

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)