Fasting - It Pleases God

Beads of Joy 03-11-11

Fasting - It Pleases God
©2011 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

We are back on the topic of fasting today. During a fast it is wonderful time to go to confession. I found that you tend to be more open and ready to talk, when we fast. I also found that you have less fear and more trust in the blessings you receive, in confession when you fast. There is so much Joy when we spend more time with Jesus. We must remember it is through the purification of the cross, that we will receive God's grace to carry our own cross and follow Jesus, and ask Him for forgiveness. As in today's gospel, "the bridegroom" was taken from us. Our fasting pleases God in that when we sacrifice and suffer, we link our suffering to our Lord. We must mourn over our sins, we must repent for all our sins; so we do not find ourselves constantly going back down the same roads of sin over and over again.

Pleasing God and doing what we can do, to do God's will, needs to be of great importance to us throughout our lives. Today's gospel seems to be sending a message of "Cherish His Presence" to my heart. Jesus is the "bridegroom" and He has been taken from us. How can we cherish His presence? Where does the Holy Spirit fit into all this? If our inner spirit is unable to be in God's presence, the desire for Him will only increase. There are so many aspects of His presence that enhance our lives. For when we are with Him, His presence removes all our fears. And have noticed something else very wonderful about His presence, whenever He is near, things change for the better; the storm is calm, those ill are healed, some were risen from the dead. How can we not see the power in His presence and how important it is for us, to have Him ever present in our lives.

We need to continue spending our lives drawing closer and closer to Him. He never forces Himself upon us, but honestly once you get to know Jesus, you can't resist Him. Drawing closer to Him gives us strength in times of temptation. When we are in doubt, His presence gives us confidence. Have you noticed how much bolder we are, the closer we are to Him. There is so much to say about our Lord's presence in our lives, and in the end the reality is; do all you can, to be as close as you can to Him, as often as you can, for all your time here on earth. Praise Jesus, I pray that you continue to have a blessed wonderful Lent.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15 (Question About Fasting)

"Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to 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."

Questions To Ponder Today:
-Do you think God wants us to starve and be hungry?
-The power and grace inside you, do you feel it?
-Do you believe God wants us to fast?
-Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to help guide you?
-Do you do your best each day to spend time with Jesus?
(Abstain from meat today, consider fish or pasta or veges instead)
Did you know that not eating meats on Fridays through Lent is a form of Penance?


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. Crowing with Thorns
4. Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus