Say Only the Good Things

Homily for Friday after Ash Wednesday

The Scriptures ask us to revisit the idea of fasting as part of our Lenten journey. We all know from our earliest years about giving something up for Lent. However, it is important that we realize that the motive behind the fasting is an important factor in our Lenten observance.

The prophet Isaiah is clear in joining the notion of fasting to that of justice in the marketplace and in the fields. He accuses the Israelites of fasting not for God but for their own profit rather than as a sacrifice or sin offering. Today we might run into a person who is fasting simply to lose a few pounds and does not even allude to the fact that this penitential act is supposed to be for God and not for our own gain or loss.

The Gospel text reminds us that fasting is not simply something does because it is a requirement or regulation. It is a way of reminding ourselves of the good things that we have because of God’s mercy.

Lately several different poetic reminders of the kind of fasting God desires have become popular on the internet. Fast from negativity and feast on the positive. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has accentuated the need to fast from gossip which he refers to as a poison that infects our relationships with one another. Bishop Barron has expanded this idea by explaining that criticism is not necessarily evil. However, he goes on to say that the level of our criticism must be measured by the level of our willingness to help the other person overcome the problem. If we do not intend to invest ourselves in helping the other person, then we need to simply keep quiet about it.

In one of his letters, St. Paul writes, “Say only the good things people need to hear.” This is itself a very interesting way to frame our Lenten penance.