Word to the Wise
Friday, March 7, 2014 - Friday after Ash Wed.
[Isa 58:1-9a and Matt 9:14-15]This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: 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. [Isaiah]
According to the Mosaic law, fasting was required of Jews only in connection with the celebration of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Nevertheless, it was adopted as a regular or common form of penance outside of that time by enough people that Isaiah took notice of it and attacked those who substituted fasting in place of compassion for those in need! Notice how the list in Isaiah reflects the list in Matthew 25: 31-45: the scene of the last judgment! In today's gospel, Jesus takes a rather casual attitude toward fasting in contrast to the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees who seemed to consider it an important and regular spiritual practice.
Roman Catholic practice in the United States generally establishes fasting as occurring only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday! Even then, if it is a burden on health or for other serious reasons, a person may find some other way to observe those days. The same is true for "abstinence" [no meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent]. And these minimal requirements extend only for those 18 to 60 years of age!
Fasting should have a purpose. If it is adopted for spiritual reasons, those reasons should be related to the whole spiritual life which includes love of neighbor! Some folks adopt the practice of donating the cost of the food they avoid in fasting to a charitable cause. Others take the equivalent to a food bank. Fasting simply because it is required by law is an empty practice. We can do better than that in Lent! AMEN