Ever since I was a little child, I've heard the message about fasting during Lent. Catholics of my generation may well have heard such phrases as What are you giving up for Lent, and so it's no surprise to hear Jesus speak about this discipline, but truly understanding the extent of the message may be another thing altogether.
In fact the prophet Isaiah spoke about the discipline of fasting long before Jesus even walked the earth, so the concept definitely isn't something new. So where does the understanding of giving something up come from? Answer: I think it comes from popular understanding of ways to deprive ourselves of the familiar luxuries in order to make room in our lives for listening to the inner voice of God. It may even have its roots in this weekend's scriptures which speak of Jesus' temptations in the desert (more on that subject in the coming days).
Fasting was also known as a penitential act, so it would have been right for Jesus to challenge the disciples of John who questioned his own disciples' lack of fasting. Then again, Jesus explanation brings about another point worth pondering. The discipline of fasting (and all the disciplines of Lent) are meant to bring us closer to our God, to facilitate our awareness of his presence and his constant care for us. Eventually each of us will complete our earthly journey and gaze on the face of our God, and at that time there will be no more need for fasting or for penance. The disciples already had an opportunity to experience full knowledge in presence of Jesus, the Son of God. To fast would have been to admit that somehow they were deprived of His presence, and the fullness of love and life he offers even today.
Then there is the deeper understanding of the discipline of fasting. It's not only about giving something up, but more about recognizing injustice in our world and doing something about it. Isaiah reminds us that we can't live our faith locked up in an ivory tower and looking out at the world around us. We need to get down and dirty, in the depths of the trenches. We need to recognize the injustices caused by human weakness and we need to speak out about them, to do something about them. He even gives some concrete examples: 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.
These words of wisdom have spoken to hearts for generations, and continue even today to call us to the essentials of living faith even today. These are not easy tasks, they are necessary tasks that come to light when we understand the true meaning of fasting.
In fact the prophet Isaiah spoke about the discipline of fasting long before Jesus even walked the earth, so the concept definitely isn't something new. So where does the understanding of giving something up come from? Answer: I think it comes from popular understanding of ways to deprive ourselves of the familiar luxuries in order to make room in our lives for listening to the inner voice of God. It may even have its roots in this weekend's scriptures which speak of Jesus' temptations in the desert (more on that subject in the coming days).
Fasting was also known as a penitential act, so it would have been right for Jesus to challenge the disciples of John who questioned his own disciples' lack of fasting. Then again, Jesus explanation brings about another point worth pondering. The discipline of fasting (and all the disciplines of Lent) are meant to bring us closer to our God, to facilitate our awareness of his presence and his constant care for us. Eventually each of us will complete our earthly journey and gaze on the face of our God, and at that time there will be no more need for fasting or for penance. The disciples already had an opportunity to experience full knowledge in presence of Jesus, the Son of God. To fast would have been to admit that somehow they were deprived of His presence, and the fullness of love and life he offers even today.
Then there is the deeper understanding of the discipline of fasting. It's not only about giving something up, but more about recognizing injustice in our world and doing something about it. Isaiah reminds us that we can't live our faith locked up in an ivory tower and looking out at the world around us. We need to get down and dirty, in the depths of the trenches. We need to recognize the injustices caused by human weakness and we need to speak out about them, to do something about them. He even gives some concrete examples: 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.
These words of wisdom have spoken to hearts for generations, and continue even today to call us to the essentials of living faith even today. These are not easy tasks, they are necessary tasks that come to light when we understand the true meaning of fasting.
No comments:
Post a Comment