What should fast be like?
The disposition in the Christian community during Lent is rather subdued as the members strive to spend more time in abstinence, fasting, charity and prayer. In the process they invent and, indeed, improve upon ways of observing Lent, though some over enthusiastic individuals lose sight of the real purpose of Lent or fasting.
A passage in the Bible illustrates one important method of fasting: “…Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife... Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes…?” “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58: 5-7).
The prophet then continues to say that if they did this kind of radical fasting, God’s glory would function as their rear guard.
We thus find that the Biblical idea of fasting is quite demanding. It is not just an external act of avoiding food or of even appearing self-righteous before others.
I had an opportunity to administer Ash Wednesday services in Tihar jail for some inmates where Sister Inigo, addressing largely young men, said, “There is hardly any merit in fasting from food in the prison, for, in a manner of speaking, not getting home cooked food, it is almost a daily fast here. But what you need here,” the nun continued, “is to fast from anger, jealousy, hatred, bitterness, impatience, discouragement, lies, back-biting, which not only makes you lose peace of mind and God’s presence but also harms others.”
Those words could be appropriately applied to each one of us, regardless of which religion we may belong to. Many of us suffer from one or the other vice, which sometimes ends up taking a serious form. While fasting from food is certainly excellent for one’s well-being, fasting from evil tendencies that prevent us from sharing in divine life can beget awesome fruits for our spiritual growth. More importantly our fasting should really benefit others more than ourselves, particularly the needy.
And the last thing to remember about fasting is what Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face…” (Matt. 6: 16-17).
Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religions, is currently the director of communication of the Delhi Catholic Church. He can be contacted at frdominic@gmail.com
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