Friday after Ash Wednesday

Somebody shared to me that he is giving up sweets for Lent. Another said she’s staying away from soda. Another shared that he is temporarily off Facebook and Twitter. And another shared that he is giving up his dinner cigarette. All these in the spirit of the Lenten Fast.

These acts of penance are all good and noteworthy. These practices of mortification, of self-denial help us recognize our true needs and help us let go of unnecessary things that often distract us from what is essential.

But the readings today shed light to a deeper and fuller understanding of fasting. Isaiah tells us that fasting is not limited to letting go of things we enjoy, or have been having in excess. Fasting rather is also and necessarily, a letting go of selfishness, complacency and apathy. Fasting is fasting from ourselves so that we can see others who are in need, and so we may do our best to reach out to them in compassion and service.

And in the Gospel Jesus tells those who question why his disciples do not fast that they will fast when the groom is taken away from them. Jesus reveals the fuller understanding of fasting – that we can truly fast and our fasting can be truly meaningful and can work to our holiness if we have filled ourselves first, with Christ. The call of fasting then is first of all, for us to receive Christ in our lives, give him priority and primacy, and with Jesus, we seek no other. Filled with Jesus, we can let go of our cravings of the things of this world, and our cravings to satisfy ourselves. Filled with Jesus, we can reach out to others in compassion and service, to give them, by our acts of alms-giving, not ourselves and our own righteousness, but Jesus.

Today, let us open our hearts, let ask the Lord to empty us of ourselves and our cravings, let ask the Lord Jesus to come and fill us, let ask the Lord to make us turn to others in need. Let us ask the Lord that we may long for, and give Jesus, only Jesus.

Amen.

Have a holy Lent.