Right before his Ascension, Jesus promised his followers, “Behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the age”. Jesus is with us always. Jesus is present in every tabernacle in the world, we can kneel in his very presence, know his closeness, adore his majesty. He is present to us when we allow God’s Word to speak to us, and guide our decisions, actions and behavior. He is present in our hearts when we act as instruments of God’s mercy to those in need.
When approached by the disciple of John the Baptist and questioned why his followers do not fast, Jesus answers, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” Jesus’ presence was so joyful that fasting, a sign of sorrow and repentance, was inappropriate. Fasting helps to restore the damaged relationship to God through sin, well, God was in their midst, so fasting was not necessary.
And if it is true that Jesus is with us always, why do we fast? Doesn’t fasting undermine our belief in his presence with us?
Jesus is always with us. But the reality of Lent though, and Lenten fasting, is that we are not always with Him. We forget his presence. We allow earthly endeavors to preoccupy us from our most important task of witnessing to his Gospel. We allow worldly attitudes to replace the love which we are to have in our hearts toward all.
So we fast in order to refocus, to recalibrate. When I visit the classrooms, I ask the students for examples of things or activities which are often obstacles to knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. And the kids are very honest. Video games, cell phones, television, internet. These modern technologies can become so addicting, people think they can’t live without them. They can occupy so much of our time that we have less and less time for what matters most in life: family, prayer, service.
It is also good to fast from certain types of food during Lent: the candy, junk food, sweets, desserts—foods which we often eat mindlessly, which do not nourish like a good meal. Immoderate snacking is a vice contrary to the temperance and self-control of the mature Christian life.
Remember too, Jesus taught that there are some demons which are only cast out by prayer and fasting. There are certain demons in our private lives, family lives, civic lives, demons which God wishes to cast out of our lives through fasting, as Jesus taught. Fasting is a powerful remedy for sin prescribed by Jesus and countless saints.
Through our Lenten fasting, may evil be cast out, may virtue be strengthened, and may Christ come to reign ever more truly in our lives and hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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May our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving bring profound renewal for the Church and serve as remedies for the evils of the world.
For Pope Francis’ intentions for the month of March: that persecuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church.
For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that they will be profoundly blessed in their preparation for full initiation into the Body of Christ. We pray to the Lord.
For all those effected by severe weather, for the safety of all travelers. We pray to the Lord.
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