TO DO GOD'S WILL IN PLACE OF OURS


SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY  

Isa 58:9-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32

The Nature of Christian Fast

As we have already observed in the previous reflections within the week, our observance of Lent is a spiritual journey. This means that it is not a journey we make through physical activities alone, although physical activities are part of the journey; rather, it is a journey made through spiritual activities. In the Gospel of yesterday, the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus to know why his disciples were not fasting along with them. They were shocked to hear his reply: “Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Reflecting deeply on our Lord’s reply, we understand that the confusion of the disciples of John is based on their understanding of fasting and its purpose in our religious practice. The major reason or purpose for the Jewish fast is to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Our Lord’s reply implies that the Messiah is already here, so why fast in that manner? Recall that in John’s Gospel, some of the disciples of John followed Jesus Christ when John bore witness that he is the Lamb of God. The ones remaining either did not hear the testimony or did not understand John the Baptist’s words.

In a more traditional sense, the Jews fast in order to retrace their steps from straying from God’s will and conform themselves more to doing his will or keeping His Commandments. Thus, the fast is to help them understand God’s will more clearly. This is also in accord with the first reason, because the Messiah or the Prophet is to proclaim the word of God and make known the divine will to his people. Thus, to recognise the Messiah and follow him is the end of the religious fast and abnegations. So, Yahweh reveals through Isaiah the nature of religious fasting. “If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon. The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places.” Our true fast is to discover the will of the Father and to do it. Whatever we are inspired to do as our fast or mortification, should increase the hunger in us to know God and his will for us; the desire to please God in our lives; increase sorrow in our hearts for our misdeeds, misconducts, and our selfishness to God and to neighbours. This is the nature of the Christian fast, which leads to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Christian fasting leads us to Jesus Christ because Christ reveals the will of the Father to us by his words and actions. The same act by which he reveals the will of God to us, he shows us how sinful and disobedient we have been to the Father. His grace reveals how spiritually sick we really are. The same revelation attracts us to him, for he is our heavenly Physician. The Word of God heals us and restores our spiritual health, that we may follow Christ and walk on the way to eternal pasture. He gives us the grace to pray like the psalmist: “Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.” The nature of our Christian fast is to do the will of God; attending to the will of the Father is truly a fast, for it is the abandonment of our own will and desire to do God’s will. Our Lord’s call of Levi to attend to God’s will is a call to fast according to God’s will for us. “Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.” Subsequently, Levi gave a banquet in praise of God because he had seen what pleases God. The Pharisees and the scribes, who were not attending to God’s presence and will, complained. They complained because they were serving the idol of self that they had set up in place of God. They ceased attending to God because they ceased bewailing their sickness. We are sick and sinful; whoever convinces us otherwise has taken Christ away from us. “It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’”

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion on our weakness and ensure us your protection by stretching forth the right hand of your majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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