There is a prayer that we attribute to Saint Francis of Assisi that makes a few bold statements. In it, we ask not to be consoled, but to be channels of God’s grace to comfort, love, and understand others. That is a difficult thing to do. Just the other day, I had just given a talk in which I spoke about the need to “pray for opportunities to be humiliated, to serve, and to learn patience.” Several people came up later thanking me and expressing how well they thought I did. That’s always comforting and affirming. Then someone came in angry, disturbed. I looked up at the tabernacle and thought: “Wow, you work fast!”
The readings this morning are again about fasting. When we practice the three pillars of Lent (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), we begin to learn things about God, ourselves, and others. Self-realization is an integral part of the Christian journey. Our faith is not just a personal relationship with Christ. It is a communal religion in which we are part of a body, His Body, the Church. That often gives us plenty of opportunities to practice patience, humility, and listening. This morning though, there is also a reminder that our fasting seeks to serve the purpose of our almsgiving. Lent isn’t supposed to be one or the other. Just like a stool with only two legs will be difficult to keep upright, we learn and grow from all three penances. The first reading today speaks of doing just that:
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.
How do I do that? First, I can take the money I save by giving up something and put that toward charity. Secondly, I can fast from my time and give that to the Church, a food pantry, or my family. I can take the opportunity of being the listener in response to chastisement, instead of letting my “fast end in quarreling and fighting.” I can make an effort to grow closer to Jesus in the Sacraments.
The Gospel reminds us that the primary purpose of our fast is to begin to seek within. You are a temple of the Living God. Spending time in silence, time with Jesus in the tabernacle, allows us to find Him. Though He is no longer physically with us in the same way, He’s here in a much more profound and compelling way. When we go forward and receive Him, we are growing in that relationship, if we allow His grace to work in us. That means confession, repentance, and conversion are essential! Love. Without love in our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, nothing remains.
So today, as I fast, I ask myself, am I showing love to others? A good thing to meditate on today is the Psalm which reminds us of the reason we should be thankful and generous with our love and forgiveness:
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A reflection on the readings for February 28th, 2020: Friday After Ash Wednesday.