Fasting ala Pope Francis

Homily for Friday after Ash Wednesday

As soon as we hear the word “fasting,” most of us will think of food. Traditionally, Lent is a time for eating less as a form of penance. However, the reading from the prophet Isaiah is really very clear about the kind of fasting that God asks of us. It has very little to do with food and a great deal to do with living in right relationship with our neighbor.

I am sure that many of you have seen the poem about fasting and feasting. It features twenty-three couplets urging us to fast from negative things and feast on positive things – such as “Let us fast from always pointing out differences...and feast on what unites all of us.” I may have even used that poem in a homily before.

As it happens, Pope Francis did something similar this year, though his suggestions were more succinct and fewer in number. He suggests that we:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness; fill your hears with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words; be silent and listen.

Finally, I would like share an idea that comes from Theologian Paul Thigpen. He notes that in the Scriptures, fasting usually leads people to being more prayerful. He makes the point that if we regard prayer as a powerful spiritual weapon, “fasting is the whetstone upon which it is sharpened. It's the spiritual muscle that, when exercised regularly, strengthens the thrust of that weapon to pierce the Enemy and drive him away."

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator