A Life-giving Fasting

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.

THE CHALLENGE OF LENT

The challenge of Lent is simple – to put our lives in order according to the will of God. How to respond to it makes it complicated.

The symbols and activities of Ash Wednesday help us to understand. First, we are called to accept that our desire to follow Jesus is like ashes in the wind: blown left and right, very tentative and easily disintegrate. That is why the discipline of Fasting is necessary. Fasting traditionally refers to food only, but a modern rendering of fasting is to forego anything that will discipline our body or curb our appetite, in a way that will bring more opportunities for prayer, i.e. communication and intimate relationship with God, and alms giving, traditionally refers only to the giving of money but at present includes anything from presence to time, to skill, or even a word, that entails a giving up on our part.

Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving – Lent has always proposed these activities that has worked in the life of the saints and the faithful in the history of the Church. They have brought sinners into conversion. They have brought holiness into the hearts of Christians. They can also bring conversion into our hearts. They can also bring holiness into our life.