*REFLECTION FOR FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II* 

Feasting and fasting as two sides of a coin in our faith journey towards "knowing" truly Who Jesus is, is the sum of today's message. 

   In the gospel (Luke 5: 33-39), Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders on His disciples not fasting as John's disciples and others do. However, Jesus reminds them that to walk with Him as a true disciple is to experience a whole new joy of relationship cognate to the joy of a wedding ceremony with the bridegroom present. But in the course of sin and challenges, the Lord's disciple would have to bear the cross of affliction and purification. Fasting helps us to declutter the mess of sin and open our hearts to the newness of life in Christ. 

   St. Paul in the first reading (1 Cor 4: 1-5) reminds the people of Corinth that he does not care about what they think of him. What matters most to him is that as a steward entrusted with the mysteries of God, he should work so as to be found worthy of his trust. He is assured that together with others who believe in the Lord Jesus will experience the fullness of God's promises.  

   Dear friends, "Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Who You have sent, Jesus Christ" (John 17: 3). Our desire in life is to totally come to the knowledge of this truth. Do I strive constantly to enjoy the glory of being in the Lord's presence and do I express sorrow and contrition for my sins when I have derailed? 

   I pray as we journey in life today, we will strive, cooperating with grace, to empty ourselves of all that are not necessary for salvation and be filled with God's presence so as "to serve the Lord with gladness and come before Him singing for joy" (Ps. 100: 2). May the joy of the Lord be our strength. Have a feast-full day!