HOMILY FOR FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY, YEAR B
THEME: BAD FASTING
BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL
‘..Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist..’
Fasting is one of the pillars of Lent with great spiritual benefits but it can be done in vain. We see fasting being undertaken in the Bible. Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and Jesus all went through prolonged fasts as they sought God. Times of national calamity and personal bereavement sometimes called for fasting as a means of humbling oneself, mourning, and seeking God’s mercy. At least once a year on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the Jews would fast, or “afflict their souls.” They would also fast at the New Year, Rosh Hashanah.
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Some people would fast regularly week by week. Regular fasting was the practice of John’s disciples. The Prophetess Anna fasted regularly (Luke 2:37), as did Cornelius the Gentile Centurion in Antioch (Acts 10:30 in some texts). Paul, too, may have practised regular fasting, though this isn’t entirely clear (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27). The Pharisees fasted twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) and was adopted by John’s disciples. The early Church fasted still twice but different days (Wednesdays and Fridays) to shift from the days of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were proud they fasted twice a week
Isaiah in the First Reading (Isaiah 58:1-9) challenged the Israelites’ acts of fasting because their attitude was that of false humility, quarrel, and even fighting. ‘You call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?’ Isaiah remarked. Such a fast was merely a routine ritual. God desires genuine repentance and inner reform, and no matter the quantity of ashes on the body without conversion, it is nothing but religious entertainment.
Like most of us, the Israelites were eager to follow external laws while neglecting inner cleansing; love for neighbour. They fasted with no change in their lifestyle. We don’t realise that we can not be so good to God and as well be a wicked neighbour. You can not be asking God for liberation while you place people in chains. It is useless paying tithes in a big envelope when we have not paid your workers. Do not put a curse on others if blessing is what you desire from God. Do not set fire everywhere if you desire peace from God. We must avoid unforgiveness, greed, malice, and other vices. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. Father give us grace to have an inner conversion through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
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