The people in Isaiah's passage are puzzled and irritated. They are very pious, religiously observant, and zealous for God. Why does God not hear them? The answer is simple: Their piety is a sham. They practise injustice, oppress their workers, quarrel and fight, and serve only their own interests. God is not impressed! God insists that if they really want to please Him, they should share what they have with the poor and needy, liberate the oppressed, and tend to the needs of others. Then and only then will God hear them, respond to them, and bless them. Justice and compassion is the highest form of worship; without it we are merely playing games with God. Why did the disciples of Jesus not fast? Fasting is a way of making us remember God and to give thanks to the one who made us. It is something we do when we feel the absence of God. But with Jesus in their presence, how could they fast? They felt God's loving presence; there was no distance of separation. They could only rejoice. Fasting and mourning could wait for the coming day when Jesus would be taken from them. Likewise, our relationship with God should be reflected in our faces, words, and actions. If we really know God and feel God's love, then we should rejoice - and this is a very effective witness. Christians have often been accused - with some justification - of being joyless, morose, and lacking in passion and feeling. Christ is risen - let our faces reflect that!