Prayer, fasting, and charity or almsgiving are three ancient pillars of Christian life that lead us to conversion throughout the whole year. They are very important during this season of Lent. Today, the first Friday of Lent, day of abstinence from meat, the Word of God speaks to us about fasting. Isaiah points out to the people that they were fasting with the wrong intentions. The people did the formal fast. They kept the rules of the fast. But their lives did not change. They thought they could push God to do what they wanted with their personal sacrifices. Then when they saw that God did not respond as they wanted, their pray became a complaint against God:
Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
Afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?
The twisted intentions behind their fasting also twisted their relationship with God (their prayer). God quickly points out to them thought the prophet that their fasting and prayer are supposed to produce a response — almsgiving, conversion, and justice. So, we see Israel with a twisted form prayer, a twisted form of fasting and no charity.
Isaiah points out how the people were capable of keeping the fast but at the same time treat their neighbors with injustice and how they only sought their own personal needs. The end result of this type of fast was quarreling, fighting, violence and injustice — twisted relationships amongst themselves and with God.
The purpose of fasting is to help us dominate our selfishness. We can begin to see that God has given us an abundance of goods and life – more than enough. We even have enough to share. The purpose of fasting is to produce a conversion in us – not to push God to do something we desire. Fasting reorientates our lives so that we can share our resources with others and live justly. The best fast is fasting from sin, fasting from selfishness. Isaiah put it very clearly:
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.
True prayer, fasting, and charity form the way to the resurrection.
Image: https://biblia.com/bible/esv/isaiah/58/1-9.