Daily Readings - Fri Feb 28 2020
Isaiah
1Cry out! Cease not! Exalt your voice like a trumpet, and announce to my people their wicked acts, and to the house of Jacob their sins2For they also seek me, from day to day, and they are willing to know my ways, like a nation which has done justice and has not abandoned the judgment of their God. They petition me for judgments of justice. They are willing to draw near to God3"Why have we fasted, and you have not taken notice? Why have we humbled our souls, and you have not acknowledged it?" Behold, in the day of your fasting, your own will is found, and you petition for payment from all your debtors4Behold, you fast with strife and contention, and you strike with the fist impiously. Do not choose to fast as you have done even to this day. Then your outcry will be heard on high5Is this a fast such as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day, to contort his head in a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Should you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord6Is not this, instead, the kind of fast that I have chosen? Release the constraints of impiety; relieve the burdens that oppress; freely forgive those who are broken; and break apart every burden7Break your bread with the hungry, and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh8Then your light will break forth like the morning, and your health will improve quickly, and your justice will go before your face, and the glory of the Lord will gather you up9Then you will call, and the Lord will heed; you will cry out, and he will say, "Here I am," if you take away the chains from your midst, and cease to point your finger and to speak what is not beneficial
Matthew
14Then the disciples of John drew near to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast?15And Jesus said to them: "How can the sons of the groom mourn, while the groom is still with them? But the days will arrive when the groom will be taken away from them. And then they shall fast
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the true meaning of fasting and its connection to living a life of justice, compassion, and fidelity to God. The first reading from Isaiah challenges us to examine the authenticity of our religious practices. The prophet criticizes those who fast superficially, seeking recognition or comfort, while neglecting the deeper call to justice and mercy. He emphasizes that true fasting is not merely about abstaining from food but about loosening the bonds of injustice, relieving the oppressed, and caring for the marginalized. Isaiah calls us to a fasting that transforms our hearts and leads to tangible acts of love and solidarity.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the question about fasting by comparing himself to a groom surrounded by his disciples. He explains that as long as the groom is with them, it is not a time for mourning or fasting. This teaching shifts our focus from external practices to the presence of God in our lives. Jesus is the Bridegroom, and his presence among us is a time of joy and celebration. However, he also warns that days will come when he will be taken away, and then fasting will have its place. This reminds us that our spiritual practices must be rooted in a deep relationship with Christ and a sensitivity to the seasons of our lives.
These readings together call us to a balanced and authentic spirituality. Fasting, in whatever form it takes, must never be an end in itself but a means to draw closer to God and to serve others. Like Isaiah, we are challenged to ensure that our religious practices are not hollow but transformative, leading us to live with greater integrity, compassion, and justice. And like Jesus, we are reminded that our spiritual disciplines must flow from a deep connection to him and a recognition of his presence in our lives. Let us examine our own practices and ask: Are they leading us to greater love for God and neighbor, or have they become empty rituals? May we fast not just with our bodies, but with hearts that seek justice, mercy, and the presence of the Lord.