The WORD
today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021216.cfm)
reminds me what kind of fasting and sacrifice God wants.
In the
first reading God tells the people… Lo, on your fast day you
carry out your own pursuits , which means that yes, they fast but their hearts are not in
the proper place.
Their focus is not on God. Maybe they want to be seen as righteous
people by fasting, maybe they want to gain something by fasting. Fasting is more
than just not eating a full meal 3x a day. Fasting is a way of being one
with Jesus as he suffered for us. As we experience pain and
difficulty, we ask God to be with us as we ask for
strength and totally rely on Him. We want to get closer to Him. We want
to be more and more like Him. The reading says that it entails doing what is
right and just for God through other people. Being more like Christ.
When
we fast, aside from wanting to be close to God, we repent
and ask forgiveness for our sins. The psalm reminds us to be humble and
repent. As we fast, we pray for forgiveness and ask God to help us change our
ways, to help us be better children of his father.
The
gospel reminds us that everything has its proper time. The disciples were
learning from Jesus. They were experiencing Jesus first hand. They were happy.
This is why Jesus acknowledges that the disciples do not need to fast just yet.
However, the time will come when they will be ready, and they too will fast.
Parang tayo. God lets us experience him first. We are happy and blessed seeing
how powerful God is, and what he can do in our lives. We see miracles in our
lives and the lives of the people around us. Then as a result of this, when we
have a personal relationship with Him already, our fasting becomes more
meaningful. We fast out of love for God. We fast to be closer to Him. We fast
to be with him and deny ourselves of the earthly comfort.
Do I
fast? Do I see the importance of fasting or do I just do it for the sake of
fasting? Do I have a personal motive for fasting (or abstinence) – more
savings, lose weight, etc, or is everything dedicated to God? What can I give
as my love offering for Christ this season?
May we
be reminded of the importance and beauty of fasting (and abstinence),
especially this Lenten season. As we give Christ our love offerings, may we
give him everything we can, and bless others as well in the process.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you
for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank
you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I focus more on the
superficial aspect of fasting and abstinence. Sorry for the times I do not fast
for the right reasons. Help me do it right this year. Help me this lent to fast
and abstain correctly, with you in mind and nothing else. Help me give up
something, or start doing something that will make you happy, that will make
your love more alive in this world. Guide me Lord and help me walk in your
path. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
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February 12, 2016Friday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 221
Reading 1 Is 58:1-9a
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Verse Before the Gospel See Am 5:14
and the Lord will be with you.
Gospel Mt 9:14-15
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”
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