Fill
Up on God this lent
John C. Favalora,
Archbishop of Miami
March 2, 2007
My dear friends,
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunup to sundown.
They touch neither food nor drink during daylight hours, breaking
the fast only before dawn and after sunset each day.
By comparison, our fasting from meat on the Fridays of Lent seems
like a minor sacrifice. Even on the days when are obligated to fast
— Good Friday and Ash Wednesday — Catholics are allowed to eat one
full meal and two small meals (and nothing in between.)
Fasting is a form of penance. But it also signifies our desire to
empty ourselves of all that is material in order to be more open to
the presence of God in our lives.
The Gospels tell us that Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days
before beginning his public ministry. The 40 days of Lent recall
that period of preparation in Jesus’ life.
During Lent, we are asked to fast in order to prepare to celebrate
the Paschal mystery, the suffering, death and resurrection of the
Lord. Worthy preparation requires us to examine our consciences and
truly repent of our sins.
In our diet-conscious society, many people look forward to Lent
because it gives them added incentive to stick to a diet or forgo
sweets. But fasting in and of itself will not yield spiritual
benefits, any more than receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday makes us
holy.
Fasting, like ashes, simply serves as a reminder, as preparation for
the true task of repentance and conversion. We fast in order to fill
up on all that is good and holy: the word of God preached at daily
Mass or read during the Liturgy of the Hours; the bread of life
received during Communion.
For a long time, Catholics focused on the “giving up” while
neglecting the “filling up.” Thank God that limited understanding of
Lent has changed in modern times.
The catechism tells us that there are three forms of penance:
fasting, prayer and almsgiving. These three forms “express
conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others.”
Other means of obtaining forgiveness, the catechism says, involve
“efforts at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance,
concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the
saints, and the practice of charity ‘which covers a multitude of
sins.’” (#1434)
The catechism goes on to say: “The seasons and days of penance in
the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory
of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the church’s
penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for
spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of
penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and
fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).” (#1438)
By all means, then, let us fast this Lent.
Let us fast from dining out, in order to give some share of our
blessings to those who hunger all year.
Let us fast from watching television, in order to attend a spiritual
retreat or evening of reflection.
Let us fast from surfing the Web, in order to make time for prayer
each day or for good conversation with family or friends.
Let us fast from our pride, in order to practice humility.
Let us fast from selfishness, in order to attend to the needs of
others.
Let us fast from arrogance, in order to discern and be obedient to
God’s will in our lives.
Let us fast from gossip and judgment, in order to sow peace in our
world.
Let us fast from sin, in order to live lives that are worthy of
God’s love.
If we strive to fast in these ways during Lent, our experience of
this penitential season will be magnified and filled with graces,
and we will truly experience the power of the Resurrection at
Easter.
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary