The Tuesday after Jubilate Sunday
Posted on May 13, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 2:18-22 (NKJV)
2:18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Devotion
The disciples of John believed that, if a man wanted to please God, he needed to fast like the Pharisees. Jesus had nothing against fasting, but He wanted to teach them that it was to be done in faith and discernment. As it is written in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1, 4). The disciples of Christ would fast, but this was not the proper time. Fasting is a sign of mourning and repentance. Since Jesus, their Bridegroom, was dwelling among them, it was a more appropriate time for feasting and joy.
In the Christian Church on earth, we are free to fast or not to fast at any time. We weep or laugh as best fits the season and our circumstances. As Paul says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). Nevertheless, when we join our Bridegroom in heaven, we will no longer fast. There the season of mourning will come to an end, for our hearts will rejoice in the presence of God, and our joy no one will take from us (John 16:22).
Collect: Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
