So as we are entering into the fourth week of Lent we are well underway through our own personal spiritual deserts. I’m sure by now you are craving those things you may have given up for Lent, or like some people, you may have already broken those Lenten fasts. But why is fasting so important? Because fasting is where we get to, “put our money where our mouth is”, meaning that we putting our prayers into action. Without fasting and almsgiving, we are simply giving the Lord empty “lip service” which he condemned: “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father” (Mt 7:21). Praying alone is not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven, but fasting helps put that prayer into action. It shows Christ that we are serious about what we are praying for. Simply put, fasting is the physical sign of our prayers, or better yet, fasting is the sacramental sign of our prayers. When we fast it shows that me mean what we pray, and pray what we mean.
Fasting also helps us acquire self-knowledge, which all of the great spiritual writers have said is the first step towards holiness. It’s rather interesting that going through a whole day without eating meat is easy for us at any other time of the year, but the minute we are required to give up meat on days of abstinence, it somehow becomes more difficult. At times my day goes by so quickly that I won’t have time to eat until late in the evening, and I don’t even give it a second thought. But on Ash Wednesday, when I am required to limit myself to only one meal, the day seems like an eternity. So what does this reveal about myself? It reveals to me that I am not as holy as I think I am. It is easy to be charitable when all our needs are being meet, but through fasting we realize that we are still called to be charitable even when our needs are not being meet:
“When a man is not troubled it is not hard for him to be fervent and devout, but if he bears up patiently in time of adversity, there is hope for great progress...My child, you are right, yet My wish is not that you seek that peace which is free from temptation or meets no opposition, but rather that you consider yourself as having found peace when you have been tormented with many tribulations and tried with many advertises” - Thomas A’ Kempis Imitation of Christ
Fasting is meant to put us in adversity, so that we can make great spiritual progress. Fasting is the practice of finding peace in the midst of temptation, and if we can find peace in the midst of little temptations, such as giving up food, we can find peace in the midst of big temptations. When we fast, temptation shows up at the doorstep of our souls, and we are given the opportunity to choose Christ over the world
Often times it has been said we should, give up “sin” for Lent; the reality is that we should give up sin 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We do not give up sin for Lent as if somehow it is okay to go back into that sin when Lent is over. That’s like the Israelites in the desert, wanting to go back to Egypt as slaves. Sin is something we are called to avoid all the time, and to never look back upon. Rather, when we give something up for Lent, it should be something good for something better. Food is good for the body, but holiness is better for the soul. Thus we give up food so that we may grow in holiness, for what does it profit a man if he should have all the filet mignon he can eat, but he loses his soul. Filet mignon is a good thing (I’m starting to get hungry now, and it’s Friday), but you can’t take it with you to heaven. In short, fasting helps us remember that we are only pilgrims here on earth and our true home is heaven. If you can’t give up food, then I challenge you to eat something you dislike as a penance (red meat still excluded on Fridays of course). I know for me, it would be a greater penance to eat brussel sprouts then to eat nothing. In fact, St. Francis used to put ashes in his food before he ate it as a penance (don’t worry you are not required to do this).
Consequently, if you are going through a mid-Lent crisis, and are tempted to break your lenten fast, do not give up, for “he who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Mt 24:13). If you find yourself struggling with temptation more and more, do not despair but rejoice, it means that you are growing in holiness. If the fasting you are doing causes you to grow irritable and uncharitable, do not stop fasting which is the easy way out, but rather humble yourself before the Lord and ask for his help, and learn to be charitable in the midst of suffering, like the saints. If you have broken your fast, then start over again, the only time we fail is when we give up. If you find that your lenten fast seems to be rather easy, then do not be afraid to go deeper and make greater sacrifices. Remember, anyone can be charitable when they are comfortable, but only saints can be charitable in the midst of suffering, and we are all called to be saints, yes even you, so do not be afraid if you are going through a mid-Lent crisis.
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