True Fasting

 

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Isa 58:1-9

True Fasting!

Meditation

Many take up fasting in this season of Lent. Some do severe fasts and carry out many responsibilities. One should be careful in observing the fast and the fruit that one bears as a result of the fast. Fasting is not for show or to please God and others. Fasting should enable one to correct oneself and help one live well. There is a danger for those who fast. They can become victims of impatience and lose virtue instead of gaining it.

Do not fast for vainglory. Fast as to amend life for the better and live well. Living right and being good to others is the purpose of fasting. If one is not careful during the fast, one can do injustice to others. A Good act of fasting makes life easy and suitable for oneself and others. In making life good for others and oneself, one learns and grows in love of God. If one harms oneself and harms others during a fast; one will not grow closer to God or closer to others. In such a case, fasting is a useless activity.

Does our fast make us humble to love and respect God and others?

Gospel: Mt 9:14-15

Meditation

 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"  And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast (Mt 9:14-15).

Nobody is forced to observe fasting and abstinence. It is a felt need according to one's situation and condition of body and soul. It is self-imposed rather than imposed by the church. Each person does penance in the best way possible. One takes up fasting freely and willingly.

 The Church guides her faithful in fasting and penance. Fasting is commonly accepted as a good religious practice for self-control and allowing God to enter into our lives. Let us practice some penance in this Lenten season.

Is fasting helpful for me to grow closer to God and the other?

Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God Reveals Himself to those Whom He Loves~

  30 December 2024 1Jn2:12-17 Meditation St John is writing to fathers, children, and young people to free them from the evils of life because of Jesus. He tells them not to love the world and those who are passing. Humans are more passionate about the temporary things of life. They are not attracted to lasting ones that give peace and Joy. The desires of the flesh, the attraction of the eyes, and the pride that comes from the world's riches do not belong to the Father in heaven. Those things that belong to God, heaven, and eternity give us lasting joy, peace, and happiness. They call for commitment and sacrifice on the part of individuals. The world and its attractions are always easy but lead to darkness and sadness. The way to happiness and light is challenging and less attractive. Do we choose life in God or death in the world? 30 December Gospel: Lk 2:36-40 Meditation God Reveals Himself to Those Whom He Loves The Prophetess, Anna, was at the servers of the...
Read more

Follow Jesus!

  First Week Saturday Ordinary Time Saturday Year One Heb 4:12-16 The Word of God is powerful. It can do the impossible and transform people. Let us read the Word of God. As we know, it is inspired and does immense good. Those who read the Word of God will not go astray. It sustains in times of fragility and temptation. Jesus is the supreme high priest. He was born among humans and lived among them, knowing their frailties. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. He will very well sympathize with us and lead us to believe that we can overcome our sin and guilt and live as sons and daughters of God set free forever. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. Year Two 1 Sam 9:1-4, 17-10; 10:1 Samuel Anoints Saul Meditation Saul, the son of Kish, had gone to look for lost donkeys. Samuel was on search to anoint someone for the Lord. On the first sight of Saul, the Lord speaks to Samuel to anoint Saul. He anoints Saul with a flask of olive oil he carried, pours on Saul’s...
Read more

Let us Go on God's Way!

  3 rd February 2024 4th Week: Ordinary Time Monday Heb 11:32-40 Mediations Let us Go on God's Way! Great men and women in the history of God’s plan suffered. Suffering for the cause of God and doing great things for the Lord is no avail. It may not make one perfect in life. Doing great things for God without God’s hand and his way is useless. One has to suffer rightly for the cause of God, and it is God who gives us perfection through his grace. It is not that we have gained perfection through our efforts. Do we go on God’s way or our own way? 2 Sam 15:13-14, 3;16:5-13a David Flees Meditation David’s son Absolom turns against him. Absalom wants to kill David. David is cursed for his evil ways. He has to flee from people. As he passes by, he experiences rejection from the people. It happens that one has to go through the face of rejection from people in life for the evil one has done. It is part of life. At one time or another, humans become contemptuous of peo...
Read more