Fifth Week of Lent: Christian Fasting (I)
Thursday 2nd April 2020
Ash Wednesday seems a lifetime ago especially as we
all continue to adjust to the present circumstances of lock-down in the fight
against the Coronavirus. This new way of daily living is proving to have many
blessings as well as many challenges. People are finding themselves confined in
the same place with others for long periods of time with only short breaks for
necessary shopping and brief spells of exercise. My brother told me on the
phone how wonderful it was that he and his wife and their two boys have been
able to spend quality time together other over the last week. However, my 3
year old nephew is now starting to “climb the walls” and my bother thinks he’s
getting “cabin fever”! Tension is building! This tension can sometimes spill over
into words of frustration, impatience and anger. How many families have
experienced this already? For those who are on their own, they too do not
escape this challenge of hurtful words. The phone, emails and other social
media allows angry words into their physically isolated spaces as well as the
opportunity for them to direct negative words to others.
What to do? Well I think it is worth keeping in
mind one of the tools the Lord spoke about in the Ash Wednesday Gospel.
‘When
you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces
to let men know they are fasting...’ (Mt 6:16)
Fasting is not a popular subject especially in our
Western consumer culture which talks about opulent comforts, excessive luxury,
and the worship of self. Advertisers tells us we need this or that product and
if we don’t have them, then our lives are not incomplete. Sadly, in the Western
world you even hear many people say during Lent - ‘You don’t have to give up
anything just do something extra instead!’ To fast is to give up something, to
abstain, do without, sacrifice a little luxury and comfort. It is quite obvious
when Our Lord speaks in the Gospel that he assumes people are already
practising fasting: ‘When you fast…’ he says. He does not say, ‘If you
fast’, ‘Could you fast’ or even ‘Fast when it suits you’ but
simply ‘When you fast’. He takes it for granted that those
who are believers automatically do this. In fasting we are reminding ourselves
that our happiness does not depend on material objects but solely on God
Himself. Comforts are nice and bring a little joy but it is only God who gives
us eternal bliss. When we fast we humble ourselves before our Loving Creator
and acknowledge that without Him we are simply dust.
So how does Jesus’ teaching about fasting help us
in our relationships during the coronavirus lock-down? Well maybe we can do a
fast of the tongue. In the Bible the letter of James reminds us that though the
tongue be only a small part of the human body it can have a powerful effect.
‘So
is the tongue only a tiny part of the body, but it can proudly claim that it
does great things. Think how small a flame can set fire to a huge forest; the
tongue is a flame like that...’ (Jm 3:5-6a)
In hurtful words from frustrated grumblings to
impatient mumblings others can be wounded and feel even more isolated than they
already are. Let us fast from using the tongue to hurt. We may be harassed,
tired and worried but before we speak, before we let loose the tongue let us
think of its consequences for those loved ones we live with and those friends
and family at the other end of the phone and email.
I have found myself this week having to deal with
some irrelevant bureaucracy. It would have been so easy to unleash my tongue
and berate the person at the other end of the phone. If I had given into that
temptation I’m sure for a few moments I would have felt better because it would
have let me feel as though I was in control of something for the first time
since the coronavirus pandemic and it would have released a lot of pent up
frustration. However, I found myself biting my tongue instead and fasting from
the barrage of caustic insults and negative words. As James writes in his
letter ‘the tongue is a flame...’ and once control is lost of the flame
it can burn down whole forests and moorlands causing devastation. It takes a long
time for things to heal and mend from its destructive power. The tongue has the
same power. It can be used for good and for bad. I recognise that if I am to
call myself a disciple of Jesus Christ then I have to embrace his way, his
command and his cross of love. Fasting from the tongue is part of the road
towards being in his loving presence forever.
Thank you to all those who have rang up and left
messages asking if I am okay. To those who have left little presents at the
door, you are all very kind and I’m doing well. It’s like being a monk again! I
have tried to ring up as many people as I have phone numbers for but as you can
imagine that is a pretty big task. I’m not even halfway through the list yet so
please don’t feel left out if I’ve not rang – I’m getting there. Do feel free
to ring the presbytery if you want a prayer or a chat. The mornings are the
best.
As always keep praying
God Bless
Fr. O’Brien