Breaking the Word

Friday after Ash Wednesday – 16^th February 2024 — Isaiah 58,1-9; Mt 9,14-15

Fasting in Love

The first reading focuses on the theme of fasting, measured as the primary act of repentance.  The prophet Isaiah today presents with two different types of fasting. The first kind is hypocritical fasting. This is some outward appearance of fasting, but, at the same time, tolerates injustice and neglects the needs of the poor. When the hypocrite asks God why He is ignoring their penance and fasting, God responds that while they are fasting, they are doing evil things, like exploiting others and fighting with others. Due to this, God asks, “Is this really an acceptable fast?” Isaiah highlights that the true type of fasting is that God truly desires external fasting to go hand in hand with love for our neighbour. Our fasting is useless, if we continue to turn our back on those in need around us. We learn in the New Testament, that when we help the oppressed, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless, we are doing these things for Christ. These deeds of righteousness, justice and charity are manifested as true acts of fasting. Indeed, Isaiah promises blessings for those who care for the poor and oppressed. Fasting should allow us to empty ourselves so that we can be filled with God’s love and God’s presence, which in turn we share with others.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday – 15^th February 2024 – Deut 30,15-20; Lk 9,22-25

Living our Choices

The first reading lays out the two choices that God offers to the Israelites: life or death, blessings or curses. As Moses draws close to the promised land, he knows that he will not enter. He then offers the Israelites the choices that God presents to them: life with God through obedience to God’s precepts, or death through disobedience. Life comes from being in relationship with God, death flows from turning one’s back on God. The way of life that God offers is not one that much of the world proposes. In fact, the world sees God’s ways as limiting when, if properly understood, they are truly liberating. The life that God offers is not freedom to indulge in every desire and pleasures of this world. It comes as a result of being willing to die to self so as to live with God forever.  However, when presented with such a choice it seems hard to believe that people would choose the path to death. Life, now and in the future, consists in hearing, assimilating, and living out the way of life that God proposes. The season of Lent allows us to see what aspects of our lives we need to die – those items that prevent us from living a life for God.