Friday after Ash Wednesday 2022 - The days are coming when my disciples will fast

 

“The days are coming when my disciples will fast”, well, here they are. Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the entire season of Lent was a time of rigorous fasting for all adult Catholics: no eating between meals, and two smaller meals not adding up to the main meal of the day.   And throughout the whole year, Catholics were to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.  

After Vatican II, these disciplines changed.  The abstaining from meat on Fridays throughout the year may now be substituted with some other penitential practice, though Fridays during Lent are still days of abstinence from meat.  And we have only two mandated fast days to observe: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The practice of fasting goes far back into our biblical roots.  The Old Testament shows people fasting as a sign of repentance and desire for conversion. The Jews even had days of fasting: “Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast” we heard from the prophet Joel on Ash Wednesday.

The New Testament also recommends the practice. “Some demons are driven out only by prayer and fasting” the Lord tells his disciples. And on Ash Wednesday, we heard the Lord say, “when you fast” you shouldn’t do so for outward appearances, but for interior renewal. When St. Paul was strike blind, he fasted for three days. The Lord Himself, as we’ll hear this Sunday, fasted for forty days.

Fasting for Christians isn’t just a sort of religious weight loss program.  We don’t fast simply for the purpose of reducing our waist size, though that is always a pleasant result of this spiritual practice.

Fasting is a spiritual self-discipline that makes us conscious of our dependence on God.  We voluntarily experience physical hunger in order to become aware of our true spiritual hunger.  That the deepest hunger of the human soul comes for the peace and joy and life that can only be satisfied by communion with God.

Another reason we fast is to subdue our passions and self-will; to discipline our unruly appetites. If we cannot control our stomach, how can we control our urges for pleasure, money, and power?  

Fasting opens our heart to charity.  Listen again to the Prophet Isaiah this morning: “This, rather, is the fasting, that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the throngs 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.”

May we take seriously the call to fasting this Lent, that our minds and hearts may be conformed ever more deeply to Christ, and be made ready for the feast of Eternal Easter, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.

22nd Week in OT 2018 - Friday - Fasting is a weapon against evil

Friday, is the traditional day of fasting for Christians. And so how appropriate that our Gospel, this Friday morning speaks of fasting. Jesus said that after His Ascension His followers would surely fast

As we’ve done for centuries, each Lent we engage in fasting in imitation of Jesus' forty-day fast in the desert. But Fasting is not just for Lent. Fasting is to be a sign of our repentance for sin and our desire to find our joy in God alone all-year round.

Before Vatican II, Roman Catholics were to abstain from meat on Fridays, and many fasted also on Wednesdays.  After Vatican II, the Church's laws regarding Friday abstinence and fasting were changed.  Some people thought that the Church was de-emphasizing fasting.  But this is not so, Church law (canon 1250 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law) still requires us to do some sort of penance on Friday, which may include fasting and abstaining from eating meat.

St. John Paul II spoke of the importance of fasting. He stated: "Jesus Himself has shown us by His own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil.”  If we struggle with a particular temptation: gluttony, lust, pride, fasting helps us to overcome these evils. In these dark days of scandal, fasting is no doubt one of the ways the Lord desires to bring light and healing to our wounded Church.

Through fasting we show that the pleasures of this world are not what make us whole and truly fulfilled. It is not cookies and snacking and desserts and television and internet and whiskey and wine in which man is to seek fulfillment.

By fasting we unite ourselves to the heart of Jesus, we share in his cross and win graces for souls, and we share in his love for his Father, to whose Holy Will we are to be totally dedicated. Voluntary fasting from food help us acquire mastery over our impulsiveness, and creates in us a greater openness to God's Spirit and deepens our compassion for those who are forced to go without food. When our souls begin to resemble Old Wine Skins because of our sinful attachments, fasting helps to make them new, to receive the new wine of the spirit.

Whatever our Friday penance, we do well to offer up our voluntary penance for those who suffer involuntarily, for the purification of the Church for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For willingness to do penance in reparation for sin, for the spread of the Gospel and sanctification of souls.

That our young people may be kept safe from the errors and poison of the world, so to grow in the ways of righteousness and truth.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, abuse, and terrorism, for the sanctification of the clergy, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: Friday - 22nd Week of OT 2016 - Fasting gives wings to our souls

Jesus said that after His Ascension His followers would surely fast. Along with prayer and acts of charity, fasting would continue to be constitutive practices for his Church. Today, Friday, is the traditional fast day for Christians.

Throughout the centuries, the church fasts each Lent in imitation of Jesus' forty-day fast in the desert. Fasting, we know, is not just for Lent, but should be a sign of our repentance for sin and our desire to find our joy in God alone all year round.

Before Vatican II, Roman Catholics were to abstain from meat on Fridays, and many fasted also on Wednesdays.  After Vatican II, the Church's laws regarding Friday abstinence and fasting were changed.  Some people thought that the Church was de-emphasizing fasting.  But this is not so, Church law still requires us to do some sort of penance on Friday, which may include fasting and abstaining from eating meat.

Pope John Paul II has made it very clear that fasting with prayer is extremely important. He stated: "Jesus Himself has shown us by His own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil.”  If we struggle with a particular temptation: gluttony, lust, pride, fasting helps us to overcome these evils.

Through fasting we show that the pleasures of this world are not what make us whole and truly fulfilled. It is not cookies and snacking and desserts and television and internet and whiskey and wine in which we find our joy. 

Consider also, the Eucharistic fast. We are still obligated to observe at least an hour fast before reception of the Eucharist.  I know many people who fast entirely on Sunday mornings until they receive the precious Body and Blood of Our Lord.  This Eucharistic fast disposes us to experience more deeply the presence of the Lord and expresses our seriousness and reverence for the Lord's coming into our lives

By fasting we unite ourselves to the heart of Jesus, we share in his cross and win graces for souls, and we share in his love for his Father, to whose Holy Will we are to be totally dedicated. Voluntary fasting from food help us acquire mastery over our impulsiveness, and creates in us a greater openness to God's Spirit and deepens our compassion for those who are forced to go without food. The discomfort brought about by fasting unites us to the sufferings of Christ, and brings to mind the sufferings of all those for whom Christ suffered.

St. John Chrysostom wrote, “Fasting is the support of our soul: it gives us wings to ascend on high, and to enjoy the highest contemplation.”  May our holy fasting increase in us a great hunger for serving the Lord, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.