" And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast" (Matt 9:15 RSVCE).

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her" (Hosea 2:14 RSVCE). 

Jesus takes up Old Testament imagery, where God refers to Himself as the spouse of His people Israel. The Lord loves us like a husband loves his wife and a wife her husband. These 40 days of Lent, the Lord wants to speak tenderly to our hearts. He draws us out into the wilderness (just like Jesus) to be with Him and to listen for His voice. We fast because the Bridegroom is not in our midst; how often do we substitute Him for something or someone else?