Today’s readings deal with the question of when to fast and how to fast. Jesus is challenged because his disciples do not undertake special fasting: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus replies that now, while he is still with them, is not the time to fast. It should be a time of joy and celebration since he, the bridegroom, is with them. Jesus goes on to teach that there will come a time when they should fast, when he, “the bridegroom is taken away from them.”
The prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading deals with the question of how to fast. A true fast is not just refraining from food, a true fast is doing justice:
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”
During the season of Lent, we fast not to punish our bodies but to make us more aware of people who are literally hungry so that we can “share our bread with the hungry.” The children at Sunday mass teach us true fasting when they joyfully bring up food for St. Francis House.
We also fast to make us aware of our hunger for God. Jesus tells us that he is the Bread of Life: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35). We all truly hunger for God but sometimes in the busyness of our daily life we forget to feed that hunger, we forget to turn to God.
Jesus proclaims “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15). Our fasting reminds us that God is right beside us. Jesus then invites us: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Turn and place your faith and trust in God. This fasting is the true fasting that God desires.
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