Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9, Ps. 51:3-6,18-19, Matthew 9:14-15
“Behold, on the day of your fast, you seek your pleasure and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel, fight and hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.” (Isaiah 58:3-4)
- John’s disciples asked Jesus: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Could it be that Jesus’ disciples were secretly fasting? Recall that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructed: “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that men may not see your fasting but your Father who is in secret.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
- On the other hand, Jesus’ disciples did not need to fast since Jesus was still with them in flesh and blood. Do you continue to pray for something that you already have? Jesus asked, “Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them?”
- Today, we learn that if we must fast, *our fasting must be necessary and purposeful.* Avoid following the crowd. Your fasting should be between you and God. Am I fasting because it is fasting season (or because I see others fasting)? What exactly do I hope to achieve by my fasting? Don’t fast if you have no prayer intention (purpose). Fast for an end to kidnapping in our country, inflation, injustice, corruption, etc.
- *Secondly, ensure that you are only depriving yourself of those things that you have in abundance.* For instance, in Nigeria, having one good meal daily is a luxury for many families. For such families, fasting from food during this season is entirely pointless. You cannot be fasting from something that was never available in the first place.
- *Thirdly, you cannot fast from something that you were never meant to have in the first place.* For instance, you cannot fast from sinful habits such as stealing, telling lies, immorality, etc. We are supposed to die to our sinful habits, not pause for a while (in the name of Lent) and then resume again with more incredible velocity after Easter. Fast from something good (a necessary item) so that your fasting truly becomes a sacrifice offered to God.
- *Fourthly, If you choose to fast from food, do not let your hunger trigger anger or bitterness.* In today’s first reading, we learn that quarrelling (fighting, revenge, acts of wickedness, etc.) nullify our fasting. Other types of fasting (as mentioned by Isaiah in today’s first reading) which are pleasing to God include: “To lose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him” (Cf. Isaiah 58:6-7)
- Fasting is not limited to skipping meals or avoiding meat. God takes no pleasure in seeing people go without food (Jesus fed multitudes with bread and fish twice). True fasting is showing kindness to oppressed people, providing shelter for the homeless and giving clothes to the naked. St. James says: “If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?” (James 2:15-16). *Fasting is useless if no one is benefiting from it.*
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, may our fasting find favour in your sight. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Friday after Ash Wednesday, Liturgical Colour: Violet. Bible Study: Isaiah 58:1-9, Ps. 51:3-6,18-19, Matthew 9:14-15).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu