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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