FASTING: Lenten Reflections

Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter has 47 days but the seven Sundays including Easter that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent. In line with the church tradition, it will be fitting if we could use this as a period of penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Fasting, which is one of the features of Lenten period, is often misunderstood for its purpose and process.

Firstly, it is often misunderstood as a tool to manipulate the will of God. I myself have had ample experiences where we have been ‘challenged’ to fast and pray as a family to accomplish our wishes and dreams. What one needs to understand here is that fasting is not a means to win God’s audience and change His mind. God is always ready to speak to us and to help us in His time in His way. Rather, fasting should be understood as a way to humble and tune ourselves to God’s wavelength in order to hear from him and effectively walk with him. In other words, what is intended through fasting is not the repentance (change of mind) of God but of us who fast and pray.

Secondly, it is often misunderstood as a magic to accomplish prosperity. We often see and hear many who fast and pray to make life a bed of roses. There may be many around us who believe that one could enter and live in ‘comfort zones’ through fasting. However, Jesus’ life disproves this (mis)understanding as we see in Matt. 4: 1-11, Mk. 1: 12-13 and Lk. 4: 1-13. Jesus, through the power of fasting, conquers the temptation to avoid the way of the Cross and walk the way of glory. Hence, the occasion of fasting should be realized as a period to gain power to face the challenges of human life and courage to carry the cross, if it is God’s will.

Thirdly, it is often misunderstood as a time to ‘torture’ oneself. Often we find people who fast abstaining from food and other physical pleasures. Such actions, many a time, become very ritualistic, since the spiritual significance of such observances is ignored; it results in sheer self inflictions. Bible, in general and Jesus in particular, condemns and corrects such outward expressions of self torturing without inward spiritual thrust. For ex., Prophet Joel urges the community to rend their hearts and not garments, emphasizing the importance of inward renewal than outward ritual (Joel 2:12-13). Jesus says, “When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:17-18.

Let me conclude by quoting prophet Isaiah’s words concerning fasting, found in the book of Isaiah 58: 5-7. He strongly denounces our familiar understanding of fasting when he says, “Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?” Further, he announces the fasting that pleases God. He says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?”