Not so fast

Today's Scripture

Let’s face it, people hear what they want to hear. Unfortunately, today’s Gospel is a perfect example of it. In an exchange with His Apostles about fasting, Jesus explains that it would be inappropriate for His disciples to fast NOW, because He (the bridegroom) is with them. So many people want to take that as ‘Christians have no need of fasting’. Well I hate to break it to you, but that is not what Jesus was saying, and it certainly was not what His disciples were hearing.

How do we know this? Because fasting was a significant part of early Christian life. We even know that Jesus fasted and advocated fasting at other times. He fasted for forty days in the desert (that is an actual thing, not a metaphor or an exaggeration), and He claimed that certain miracles REQUIRED FASTING. This is Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, telling us and showing us that fasting is not only appropriate, but POWERFUL.

Many people are not aware of this, but fasting is STILL a highly recommended practice for all Catholics in the canons (laws) of the Catholic church and as outlined in the Catechism. Every Friday is to be to the week what Lent is to the year. Fridays are a day of penitence, and fasting is a tremendous way for us to remind ourselves of this. Here is why fasting is powerful: It is a very tangible way that we can bend our wills to the will of God. It also allows us to prefer the spiritual over the material/physical. Maybe most importantly, it teaches us that we can have control over our impulses.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the author tells us: “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” We learn obedience, and this makes us more Christlike. When we are more Christlike, we can be an instrument of His love and salvation to others. Even greater perhaps is this: when we, as Church, fast on Fridays, we unite our community to the will of God.

Are there things that you have prayed for over and over and have even considered their place in the will of God, but nothing happens? So many people share with me that they pray for loved ones who are separated from God or from the Church, and say they will do anything: how about fast? Our Lord Jesus recommends it!! This is not some silly superstition, but something that Jesus spoke of and did himself. So think about taking The Savior at his word and try fasting. You can even fast from particular food (a form of abstinence) that is a particular favorite or that you enjoy often. Making Friday a meat-free day throughout the year is a way to continually put our will in second place.

Technically, a fast is one normal meal and two small meals (if you add the two small meals together they should be equal or less than a regular meal). It is even common to fast from all food and drink water only. If this seems extreme, keep in mind that accept with no argument (maybe a little grumbling) when we have to fast before a blood test or medical procedure, accepting fully the will of the doctor. Perhaps we should consider accepting the will of God as readily and believing in the power of the fast.