Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin (Optional Memorial)
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish . . . (Isaiah 58:6)
Fat-burning diets, raw food diets, low carb diets. Name the problem, and there’s a specialized diet for it. Sometimes the diets offer conflicting advice, making it hard to decide which one is best. But despite their differences, they all have one goal in common: to make you a slimmer, healthier version of yourself.
The people of Israel had a goal for their “dieting” as well: they wanted God to hear and answer their prayers. But fasting is not like dieting, where we simply reduce our food intake to get the results we are looking for. Fasting is an invitation to strip off distractions and make more room for God.
It may not sound appealing at first, but fasting is one of the greatest blessings God gives to us during Lent. Our distractions are too numerous to count. When we eliminate one or more of them—snacks or TV time or gossip—we open up time and space for God. We move beyond the thing we are giving up and embrace the gift that God has for us. Perhaps it’s a word of encouragement from Scripture or an insight about someone we love or a softer heart toward a difficult neighbor. Fasting can open the door to these gifts simply because we are more able to recognize them in our lives.
There’s another blessing to fasting, one that we don’t often think about. That same time and space that we give to God is also a sacred gift that we give to ourselves. When we set aside this time and space, we are asking the Lord to be more present to us. We are asking him to give us a deeper taste of his love and a deeper sense of his comfort and healing.
So pray about what types of things might be good for you to fast from. Remember, this is a season of grace, and God is more than willing to shower his blessings on you as you seek him.
“Father, through my fasting and prayer this Lent, help me to glimpse the glory you have promised.”
Psalm 51:3-6, 18-19
Matthew 9:14-15
Daily Marriage Tip for March 3, 2017:
The lay movement Teams of Our Lady asks its members (married couples) to have a “sit down” once a month, where husband and wife set aside time to give each other undivided attention and share what’s on their hearts. Could this practice benefit your marriage?