Friday after Ash Wednesday
(Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15)
Catholics used to fast often. Before Vatican II adults would observe Ember days
- four Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the year -- when they would
eat meat only once (no meat on Fridays, of course) and nothing between
meals. During the whole of Lent they
would fast in the same way. Probably taking
the first reading to heart, bishops decided to relax the rules on fasting. Ember days have been dropped altogether, and
the Lenten fast days are limited to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting has advantages.
Eating meat can build up cholesterol levels to unsafe levels. Moreover, refraining from what one enjoys
will increase discip0line to resist overindulgence. These, however, are only side benefits of
fasting. It is meant as a penitential practice. We sacrifice the pleasure of eating to show
sorrow for our sins. It is like a fine
for a traffic violation. The fee will
likely create difficulty for the payer and make her or him a more conscientious
driver.
We still hear preachers saying that in place of fasting, let
us do good works during Lent. But why
does Lenten practice have to be an either/or proposition? We should fast, do charitable works, and take
more time for prayer as ways of imitating our Lord Jesus.
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