I was reading in Matthew last night, and it struck me how I had missed something crucial in Jesus’ words about fasting:  Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

We’ve always interpreted this as, when Jesus goes back to the Father, the disciples start fasting.  Simple.

Well, maybe that’s not all it means.  I’m convinced it means… when God seems distant, when your prayers seems to echo back to you, mocking your faith, it’s time to fast.  The bridegroom, the “joy of salvation”, is missing.  Then you will fast.