First Sunday of Lent - The Best Fasting You'll Do

 

On this first Sunday of Lent, Jesus shows us the importance of prayer and fasting against the temptations of the enemy, … Satan, ... the devil.
Alone in the desert, Jesus fasted 40 days as the devil pestered Him, trying to make Him reject His father's will. He was at his weakest moment, hungry and very vulnerable. Angels were there to nurture him, and the animals came by his side to let him know and feel God's presence. And He retained his faith and remained faithful to his Father. 

So this is why, during this season of Lent, we are also asked to pray and fast.
These actions are meant to give us a connection and bring us close to God, by mastering our bodies and the advances of the devil. He wants to use our fleshly form, with our weaknesses, our fears, our addictions and compulsions - our negativity – to lure us away from God.

This fasting in our time usually manifests itself as what people will, “give up,” the things they will fast from, so to speak. Often its a list of "Dont's," which feels as much like a yearly habit and following rules, more than a desire to beat Satan and draw closer to God. And I wonder if, when Easter has passed, if they just pick right back up where they left off.

Toward that end, it occurs to me that if we are going to beat the devil AND give up worldly things in the hope of drawing closer to God, well... How about a Fasting List of things that might actually get us there and which might stick with us after Easter?

- Fast from worry... and feast on Divine Order, by trusting in God
- Fast from complaining... and feast on appreciation and gratitude
- Fast from negatives... and feast on affirmatives
- Fast from unrelenting pressure... and feast on unceasing prayer
- Fast from hostility... and feast on tenderness
- Fast from bitterness... and feast on forgiveness
- Fast from self concern... and feast on compassion for others
- Fast from the shadows of sorrow... and feast on the sunlight of serenity
- Fast from idle gossip... and feast on purposeful silence
- Fast from judging others... and feast on the Christ within them
- Fast from the emphasis on differences... and feast on the unity of life
- Fast from thoughts of illness... and feast on the power of God to heal the soul
- Fast from words that pollute... and feast on phrases that purify
- Fast from discontent... and feast on gratitude
- Fast from anger... and feast on optimism
- Fast from discouragement.... and feast on hope
- Fast from suspicion... and feast on truth
- Fast from thoughts that weaken... and feast on promises that inspire

Peace and salvation come through conversion - not confusion – and that is what God wants for us.

Adapted from a homily by Deacon Thomas Souza
Our Lady Of The Hills Catholic Church,
Lexington, SC

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