Friday after Ash Wednesday - March 7, 2025

 Isaiah 58:1-9a Matthew 9:14-15

As a Catholic who has practiced Lenten traditions since childhood, with fasting always part of the season. Growing up, I remember the seemingly endless Friday night fish sticks and the conscious effort to avoid meat, indicating the sense of sacrifice and discipline that Lent required. However, as I focused on today’s scripture passages I was reminded of the deeper meaning of Lent; one’s actions, which go far beyond abstaining from certain foods.

In Isaiah God speaks through the prophet to reprimand the Israelites for their shallow practice of fasting. They would lament their hunger yet continue with selfish actions. God clarifies that true fasting is not merely the physical act of abstaining from food but engaging in acts of righteousness, justice, and compassion. It is about sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the naked. This form of fasting brings light, healing, and God's favor upon us. Similarly in Matthew, Jesus addresses the Pharisees' concern about His disciples not fasting. Jesus explains that while He is present, it is a time for joy and celebration rather than fasting.

Reflecting on these scriptures, I realize that my Lenten observances should extend far beyond dietary restrictions and fish sticks on Friday. True fasting calls for a change of heart and actions. This Lent, let’s strive to embrace the true spirit of fasting with actions by supporting those in need, and fostering a genuine sense of community and love for all. In doing so, we can honor the true meaning of our faith and move closer to God's healing presence.

Having said that, as I personally strive for a more well-rounded Lenten season, I hope to find time to enjoy a McDonald’s filet ‘o fish sandwich. Some old habits are hard to give up!

Q: This Lent, what new practice or discipline will I commit to that I’ve never tried before?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday of Holy Week - April 14

Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11 These readings are a great reminder to us all during Lent and Holy Week that we are called by God to spread His word. We are called to listen to Jesus in our daily lives, follow his example, and spread his teachings in our daily lives. The readings and Gospel first help us remember gratitude for all the beauty around us. As a parish, we are so blessed with the wonderful leadership of our parish, the beautiful church in which we celebrate Mass and the Sacraments, the amazing choir that shares its angelic voices, and a wonderful Catholic community. God has provided the very breath in our bodies, allowing us to share Jesus’s teachings by acting Christlike in our daily lives, living out Jesus’s example for our community and beyond. And when we are called to more overtly spread Jesus’s teachings – we are given instruction on HOW to share the Good News - humbly and quietly. The Gospel gives us a reminder of what is to come during Holy Week. While Mary anoints Jesus...
Read more

Palm Sunday - April 13

Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 On this day, we pack into the narthex bearing our palms and listen to a Gospel reading recounting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with his disciples before processing into the sanctuary. In recent years, these exclamations have troubled me; after all, not long after this moment of praise, we hear (or say) the words, “Crucify him!” It can feel vaguely uneasy to join in triumphal exclamations knowing that we’ll soon be meditating on the disciples who betrayed Jesus - betrayals mirrored in our own lives. Does that sense of unease miss the point of Palm Sunday’s opening rite? Turning to Luke, we learn that those who cry out are a “multitude” of his “disciples” - that is, a veritable crowd of outsiders who gradually joined Jesus as pilgrims on his journey from Galilee up to Jerusalem. They exclaim, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” The first sentence is shar...
Read more

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent - March 12

 Jonah 3:1-10.   Luke 11:29-32 My first reaction to the first reading was one of fearfulness. God is proclaiming to Jonah that he would destroy an entire city and its people. I had to read it several times before I started to realize that there was a different message, not one of anger and wrath, but a message to listen, and a call to action. Jonah was given a message, and he was called to spread that message in order to save the people of that city.  I have been guilty of not making enough time for God. Some days I feel like I am just bouncing from one activity to another. By the end of it I find I am so tired I turn to my cell phone or the television to “zone out.” Many days are filled with thousands of decision points, and not each decision is the “right” decision. Worst of all, in some of those decisions I commit sin. In some of those decisions, consciously or not, I do not make an attempt to include God or listen.  Jonah listened to God‘s message first and then ...
Read more