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It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Alas, it is worse than that. When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything.
- Gilbert Keith G. K. Chesterton
(What will you do to deepen your faith during Lent?)
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IS 58:1-9A; PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 18-19
MT 9:14-15
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
"Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"...not turning your back on your own." —Isaiah 58:7
It is possible for our Lenten fasting to have the effect of focusing on ourself. For example, we focus on our hunger pains, our weight loss, our inconvenience, our lightheadedness. Fasting that centers on ourself is not the kind of fasting the Lord wishes (see Is 58:5). Are our days of fasting only leading us to complain to the Lord, "Why do we fast, and You do not see it? afflict ourselves, and You take no note of it?" (Is 58:3) To such fasting, the Lord responds: "Was it really for Me that you
fasted?" (Zec 7:5)
God wishes us to fast for His sake and for the sake of others. Scripture shows that our fasting is best used as a weapon for bringing forth the kingdom of God. Our fasting can move mountains (Mt 17:20-21, NAB), set people free from the oppression of Satan's kingdom of darkness (Is 58:6-7), inaugurate explosions of evangelization (Acts 13:2ff), and restore broken families and relationships (Is 58:12).
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2), not on our sufferings. Today and throughout Lent, "fast so as to make your voice heard on high!" (Is 58:4)
Prayer: Father, others have fasted for me to move me to the point where I am today. May my Lenten fasting move many people, particularly my loved ones, to be set free from the chains that bind them, and set free for Your service.
Promise: "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn." —Ps 51:19
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
SECTION VI. The Treatment of the Divine Action.
The divine action as manifested in daily events is treated by many Christians in as unworthy a manner as the Jews treated the Sacred Body of Jesus.
The world is full of infidelity. How unworthy are its thoughts of God! It complains continually of the divine action in a way that it would not dare to use towards the lowest workman about his trade. It would reduce God to act only within the limits, and following the rules of its feeble reason. It presumes to imagine it can improve upon His acts. These are nothing but complaints and murmurings. We are surprised at the treatment
endured by Jesus Christ at the hands of the Jews, but, O divine love! adorable will! infallible truth! in what way are you treated? Can the divine will ever be inopportune? Can it be mistaken? “But there is this business of mine! I require such a thing! The necessary helps have been taken from me. That man thwarts all my good works, is it not most unreasonable? This illness comes on just when my health is most necessary to me.” To all this there is but one answer that the will of God is the only
thing necessary, therefore what it does not grant must be useless.
Then what appears to me at present so intricate, so perplexing, so foolish, so inconsistent, so imaginary, will all be entrancing and will delight me eternally by the beauty, order, knowledge, wisdom, and the incomprehensible wonders it will all display.”
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