The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the depth of our care and response to the needs of others as we respond to the invitation in Lent to closer connection to the Bridegroom of the Church.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah distinguishes between False and True Worship.
* [58:1–5] The prophet is commanded to condemn the formalism of the people, specifically their hypocritical fasting.
* [58:6–12] Fasting is not genuine without reforming one’s way of life. A true social morality will ensure prosperity. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 58, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer for Cleansing and Pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. (Psalms, PSALM 51, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus discusses the Question about Fasting.
* [9:15] Fasting is a sign of mourning and would be as inappropriate at this time of joy, when Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom, as it would be at a marriage feast. Yet the saying looks forward to the time when Jesus will no longer be with the disciples visibly, the time of Matthew’s church. Then they will fast: see Didache 8:1. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Martha Slocombe comments that when we try to control some aspect of our lives to please God, or even just to get God's attention, we can get too focused on control or persistence itself rather than on letting God in our hearts.
Isaiah 58 tells us that when we fast to gain access to God, and in doing so are arguing with those around us...it feels...like we're doing it wrong. We're acting like my kids when they argue about who's more mature and capable of having control of the TV remote, and the end result is no one's maturity is showcased and no one gets to watch anything (except kids arguing, of course). We need a different way. Our heart's got to be in it. We've got to let God inside enough that we can see past the arguments and the whining and get to God's wildest plans for our flourishing as individuals and as a people. (Slocombe, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “True fasting,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD.
"All the endeavors for fasting are concerned not about the rejection of various foods as unclean, but about the subjugation of inordinate desire and the maintenance of neighborly love. Charity especially is guarded - food is subservient to charity, speech to charity, customs to charity, and facial expressions to charity. Everything works together for charity alone." (excerpt from Letter 243, 11) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9 comments that fasting brings to mind all the people who have less than we do. We may be denying ourselves something that is easily accessible and within our reach. How many others in the world are “fasting” not because they choose to but because there isn’t enough to go around? Fasting can raise our awareness of our brothers and sisters who are suffering and in need. That, in turn, can help us to become more generous in giving alms—whether that’s by giving away our money, our possessions, or our time in service to them.
If you’ve already decided what to fast from this Lent, think about the ways it might lead you to deepen your prayer and almsgiving. If you haven’t, ask the Lord what kind of fast would help you do so. Above all, remember that whatever you do this Lent, it’s all for one purpose: to help you respond to the love that God has already shown you. That’s what the Jews in today’s first reading had forgotten. May we never lose sight of it!
“Jesus, help me to bear fruit for you this Lent.” (Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the questioning of the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon in the passage from Trito-Isaiah about the missing blessings promised in Second Isaiah. The Gospel of Matthew declares Jesus as the Bridegroom who has married the Church. Friar Jude reminds us that fasting is done for many good reasons but it should be accompanied by joy and not misery.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, points to the inner authority and universal wisdom that characterize the writings of the mystics. He praises the inherent humility of the mystics and others who have encountered God.
All the truly great persons I have ever met are characterized by what I would call “radical humility.” They are deeply convinced that they are drawing from another source; they are instruments. Their genius is not their own; it is borrowed. They understand that we are moons, not suns, except in our ability to pass on the light. Our life is not our own, yet, at some level, enlightened people know their life has been given to them as a sacred trust. They live in gratitude and confidence, and they try to let the flow continue through them. They know that love is repaid by love alone, as both St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thérèse of Lisieux taught. (Rohr, 2024)
We are reminded by the Spirit of our mission to recognize and remove the barriers of injustice, inequality, disinterest, and self centredness that impede our loving action to care for the needs of the people in our environment.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 58. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/58?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
Meditation on Isaiah 58:1-9. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/16/897069/
Psalms, PSALM 51. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Rohr, R. (2024, February 16). Authentic and Humble Fire — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/authentic-and-humble-fire/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb16
Slocombe, M. (2024, February 16). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021624.html
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