Pope Francis message for our Lenten journey

Fasting,  experienced as a form of Self Denial helps those who undertake it to recognize that we find our fulfillment in God.

How often do I push God into the Periphery?


TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Isaiah: 58:7 "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?"

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Both readings this morning speak of fasting, one of the traditional Lenten practices. 

We tend to think of fasting in relation to food. 

To fast is to deprive ourselves of certain foods for a period of time. 

In the first reading, however, Isaiah defines fasting much more broadly than that. 

He understands it as fasting from all those ways of relating to people that damage and oppress them and replacing such ways of relating with working for justice on behalf of those in greatest need. 

Isaiah seems to be saying that fasting can never be separated from that other Jewish practice that we associate with Lent, almsgiving, the sharing of our resources with others. 

On Ash Wednesday the gospel reading put before us the three great Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 

Isaiah reminds us this morning that all three stand or fall together. They are three expressions of one way of life. 

We cannot focus on any one to the detriment of the other two. 

Fasting is saying ‘no’ to something. 

Isaiah reminds us that such saying ‘no’ is always with a view to saying ‘yes’, a ‘yes’ that finds expression in greater service of our neighbour. 

Such service of others makes our prayer more acceptable to God.

In the words of our first reading, ‘Cry, and the Lord will answer; call and he will say, “I am here”’.

Our fasting, penances and sacrifices are to help us become more joyful… because we have Jesus, the bridegroom with us… because we have Jesus, the One for Whom we are fasting, is with us!

His presence with us, is a matter of joy… yet we fast and do penance, to share joyfully in His suffering and pain.

His presence with us, is an occasion of rejoicing… yet we make sacrifices and discipline ourselves, to find deeper meaning in His Cross.

His presence with us, is a period of celebration…. yet we have self-control and abstain oneself, to be united closer to His redeeming action.

Let us not get stagnant.


RESOLUTION

Let us resolve to open our eyes to the real purpose and meaning of our fasting and our acts of penance.

Pray for repealing of the three farm laws as you attend the Way of the Cross.