Fasting is essential part of spiritual life
Fasting is an essential part of spiritual life. This form of renunciation can be carried out in the spirit of penance, as request, as meditation, as repentance, as appeal to God. In spiritual history, many have fasted in preparation for revelation. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights as He sought clarification on His role as Messiah, and confronted satanic rule. Following the example of our Divine Lord, we celebrate forty days of fasting and repentance annually.
Lent - time of purification, penance and re-orientation
This Church season is called Lent, and is a time of purification, penance, and re-orientation of our lives towards God. Our fasting is a plea before God to liberate us from personal sin, and to liberate our nations from the vexations of the results of manifold sin and their encroaching power to distress. Fasting and prayer are spiritual methods to confront structural evil.
Structural evil
Structural evil is that which enters large, unwieldy organizations in which many good people - rendered powerless through custom and rules - may find themselves faced with the decision to bow their morals before the throne of mass production and ever-increasing profit values, at the cost of personal values and allegiance to the Laws of God - or lose the very income they and their families depend upon.
Jesus gave guidance that public mourning designed to attract attention and public acclaim is not to be sought. Rather, fasting should be done silently, in secret before God the father. This kind of fasting will be rewarded. And the reward? God often grants the penitent request. The repentant heart finds peace. Relationships are restored. The breach in peace is healed, and love rules in the heart and life of the penitent once more. Courage is given to the fasting person not to bow morals in pursuit of daily necessities, but to find godly alternatives. In short, God rewards with His Providence and Love.
Inward renewal
The time of fasting, in close relationship to God, makes all things inwardly new. The act of fasting makes us appreciate the gifts of life even more. Fasting renews the inner being.
Fasting is to be done with discretion and as a spiritual aid alone. Fasting to the point of anorexia is not advocated by spiritual teaching. Here again - as in all things - moderation and common sense is the key. Those suffering with diabetes are not encouraged to fast from food, as this is detrimental for their health. For those whose health situation, youth or senior age do not allow fasting, there is fasting of another kind: fasting (abstinence) from an unkind word, malicious gossip or inappropriate thought. Ask God for guidance and He will lead you in the right path for your personal spiritual renewal.
Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount, "When you fast, do not look sombre like the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, Who is unseen; and your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [1]
[1] Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 16 to 18
With thanks to the Bible
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