Friday 19 February

Today is Friday the 19 February, in the season of Lent.

Madison Cunningham with the Porter’s Gate sings ‘Little Things With Great Love’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 9:14-15

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

One of the dangers about religious people is the sad tendency to look down with condemnation on other people for not being sufficiently “religious”. That is what happens to Jesus in today’s reading: ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’ 

Is Lent a time when you find yourself comparing yourself to others, finding them to be either insufficiently “holy”, or in contrast, managing their Lenten sacrifices better than you? Is that a good way to spend this season of Lent?

Now the passage is going to be read again; as you listen, ask yourself what the Lord might be saying to you here.

Finally, just gather together the thoughts that have come to you in this time of prayer, even if they are a bit “untidy”. Then place them all before the Lord.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.