Reflection
What if the fast God wants has nothing to do with your stomach and everything to do with your doorstep?
Two days ago, a billion foreheads were smudged with ash. Today, God says He doesn’t care.
Not about the ash. Not about your empty stomach. Not about your impressive discipline of giving up coffee or Netflix or whatever comfortable sacrifice makes you feel holy while the world hemorrhages.
Isaiah is ruthless: “Is this the fast I choose?” God watches us perform our hunger like theatre, skipping meals while skipping over the homeless man at the church door. We bow our heads in penance while keeping our fists clenched around everything we refuse to share. The prophet isn’t whispering here. He’s screaming. Set the oppressed free. Share your bread. Bring the homeless poor into your house. Right now, families are being torn apart at borders and migrants are sleeping on frozen sidewalks and we’re debating whether we gave up sugar or screen time.
Then Jesus, almost mischievously, says his friends don’t fast because they’re at a wedding. The bridegroom is here. Why mourn at a feast?
Here’s what haunts me: we’ve turned Lent into a forty-day performance review of personal willpower. Meanwhile, God is saying the only fast worth doing is the one that breaks something open, chains, bread, your door, your life.
The fast God wants doesn’t shrink your waistline; it shrinks the distance between you and the person you’ve been crossing the street to avoid.
This Lent, what are you actually giving up – comfort, or just calories?
Oh WOW‼️ What an awesome reflection!
GREAT way to start the Lenten process.He who has 👀should see,👂should hear!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I love❤️ this site!
It is nice to see a reflection that calls a spade a spade. Thank you.
What a wonderful reflection! Now the challenge is mine to break open my heart….
Wow, and I thought I was doing my part, NOW I see the poor with a better helping hand, Thanks for the crossing the road!
Thank you so much for this very direct, on point reflection!