On Fasting

Lenten Reflections, 3/6/14

On Fasting                                                              

SCRIPTURE:  

“Is not this the fast that I choose:  To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the throngs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”

Isaiah 58:6  (RSV)

REFLECTION:

Fast from coffee?  Impossible!  

 As my my friends and I, who pray together almost every day, discussed Lent and what sacrifices we would be willing to make, we all agreed that coffee would be the hardest thing to give up, with giving up sweets coming in a close second. But the more I thought about this, the more it seemed downright shameful that we felt we could not make such minor sacrifices for someone who, during the last hours of His life, was offered only vinegar to drink and no doubt hadn’t had a good meal in days, let alone honey cakes!

So along this theme, while stressing the most important “fast”  according to Isaiah:  to vanquish sin, to cast off pride and to help the poor and the needy (paraphrased loosely), I wish to make some comments on non physical and physical fasting and its effectiveness.  

People in the Bible fasted from periods of three days, seven days, ten days, twenty one days and forty days (Moses, Elijah and Jesus).  Most of us weak Christians are lucky if we can make it through one day!  But why should fast anyway?

Fasting is a form of prayer and a way to grow more aware of God, to be reminded at every pang of hunger of his gracious mercy.  

In Joel 2: 11-13, we read:

“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.”  What better words could accompany us during the days of Lent, as we identify so closely with Our Lord’s suffering!  To return to God with all of our hearts is the single goal of fasting... not to look pious to our friends, to lose weight,  to save money. etc.  

SUGGESTIONS:

Non physical fasts:  

1. Fast from pride in appearance... put away the jewelry, makeup, gorgeous clothes for awhile (very humbling)
2. Fast from TV, novels or Face Book.   Replace with Scripture and other spiritual reading, Rosary, church services, Adoration, prayer groups, etc..
3. Fast from frivolous outings and parties
4. Fast from talking, as much as possible, especially gossip and criticism. 

Physical Fast:

1. Fast from food you really enjoy (especially meat and dairy products to honor some of the earliest fasts), one day a week or Wed. and Friday (traditional church fast days), or for the entire forty days.
2. Try the “Daniel” fast, of fruits and vegetables only, or the other Daniel fast: 10:2,3: “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth.” Remember: Proverbs 15:17 “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” Proverbs 15:17
3.   Fast by eliminating a meal or two.
4. Fast with water and juices only

RESULTS:  You will be amazed at the spiritual fruits of fasting.  Besides bringing us into closer union with Our Father, many people (including me) have found that fasting for a specific purpose brings results.  Remember Ezra 8:23:  “So we fasted and implored God for this and he listened to our entreaty,” and Mark 9:29: “This kind can only be driven out by fasting and prayer.” 

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: 

 “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.”  Romans 14:3