Friday after Ash
Wednesday
(Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15)
Some always question whether fasting is a worthwhile
activity. After all, if it does any
good, the benefit is not readily seen.
Many even advisenot to fast during Lent but to do something of more
obvious merit. Today’s first readings indicates
that helping the oppressed is what the Lord wants most of all. But the gospel hints, at least, that giving
up food is sometimes required.
Why is fasting a good thing to do? Three reasons have been long proffered in
favor of fasting. First, fasting takes
one’s attention from lustful objects and demonstrates one’s self-control. It is true – the more we think of food, the
less will our minds wander to sex. More
importantly, however, fasting raises one’s mind to God. The distress it causes makes one naturally
look to God for relief. Finally, fasting
is an act of penance which satisfies for sins.
As the Letter to the Colossians says, one can join his or her suffering
to Christ for the benefit of the Church. A fourth reason for fasting may be added. One
can show love for God by refraining from what he or she enjoys. A man shaved his head when his wife was
undergoing radiotherapy for cancer as an expression of solidarity with her. So people can think of their fasts as a way
to express solidarity with Christ in the desert.
All adult Catholics are required to fast during
Lent. We should not eat any meat on Ash
Wednesday and all the Fridays of the season.
We should also refrain from eating more than three times on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday. In these ways
we show ourselves as members of a community on the way to renewal. Few people would say that these mandated
practices comprise a great challenge. We
might also augment our fasting by, for example, abstinence from sweets or
alcohol. Such sacrifice will not hurt us Quite the contrary, they will likely enable
us to emerge even stronger from the Lenten journey.
