There is a time for everything: a time to feast and a time to fast. How discreetly Jesus defends his disciples. John the Baptist’s disciples like the Pharisees went beyond the once a week fast. The Baptist regarded himself as the friend of the bridegroom. Availing of the same description Jesus considers himself to the bridegroom; his disciples are his guests. The nuptials are on. How can the disciples fast at a wedding reception while he is still with them? But there will be a time for fasting, a time to mourn his absence when he would be taken away and return to the Father who sent him. They would have to live on memories when Jesus was with them. Then they would fast and mourn.