1st Sunday Lent C. Jesus came out of the dessert victorious against temptation. He was tempted to take some bread but he turned it down. He was tempted to take on “super” power [Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory”] but he declined. He was tempted with fame but decided to be simple and quiet. He was tempted to be filled with himself but he wanted to be filled with God; he wanted to be filled with us. In the desert Jesus died to himself in order to live for us.
This is the true nature of fasting, of denying food to ourselves, of giving up something this Lent. Fasting zeroes in on the real focus of Christian journey, not ourselves but God and the needy. We spend less time for ourselves that we may spend more time for God in prayer. We spend less for ourselves so that we can spend more in helping others. Fasting for the sake of the self is not complete; fasting in order to pray more, in order to share more , this is the true spirit of Lent.
Jesus was able to say yes to suffering and death, to salvation and freedom for all, because he said no to bread, to power and to fame, which were all for oneself. Fasting is saying no to self, not because one hates oneself, no, but because one wants prayer and giving more than oneself. Genuine fasting is life-giving.
