Thursday, February 11, 2016

Homily for 12 Feb 2016

12 Feb 2016
Friday after Ash Wednesday

When something bad happens in life, it’s not that uncommon for us to lose our appetite.  A family member dies, and we don’t feel like eating.  A friendship ends, and we take a little less pleasure in things . . . at least for awhile.  In that context, the idea of “not eating” makes sense; it’s a sign that some part of us is deadened a little bit inside.

And this is how Jesus approaches the idea of fasting: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”  Well, no.  That’s why his disciples weren’t fasting.  Fasting makes sense—but only in a certain context.  Really, all that we do during Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—it only makes sense in the larger context of salvation.

You know, if we don’t have some sense that there’s a barrier between us and God, then why bother fasting?  What is there to mourn or to be sad about?  But if we feel in our hearts that we’re not as close to Christ as we could be, well . . . there’s a reason to fast—as a spiritual discipline, yes, but also as a sign of sadness that we’re separated from the One who loves us.

As the Prophet Isaiah shows very colorfully this morning, God isn’t interested in fasting, if it doesn’t have behind it a love for, and a desire to be with, him.  God is interested in what’s going on in our heart, in our soul.  That’s why the psalmist can say: “A heart contrite and humble, O God, you will not spurn."

God sees the prayer, the fasting, and the almsgiving we do.  But he also sees our motivations behind our Lenten practices.  As he looks into our hearts, what does he see?  Is it a desire to love him, to serve him?  Or is there some other reason why we do what we do?   

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