Daily Readings - Fri Feb 19 2021
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 explore the theme of fasting, but not merely as an act of abstinence. The First Reading from Isaiah 58.1-9a challenges us to consider the true nature of fasting. Isaiah criticizes those who fast superficially, focusing on outward appearances rather than inner transformation. He calls for a fast that involves freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. This kind of fasting, Isaiah promises, will bring light and healing, as God will hear our cries.
The Gospel from Matthew 9.14-15 shifts our focus to the timing and spirit of fasting. Jesus, when questioned by John's disciples about His disciples' lack of fasting, responds by likening His presence to a groom at a wedding. While the groom is present, it is a time of joy, not mourning or fasting. Jesus implies that fasting will become appropriate when He is no longer with them, serving as a way to seek God in His absence.
These readings connect by emphasizing that fasting is a spiritual practice rooted in the right heart and timing. Isaiah teaches us that fasting must be accompanied by justice and compassion, while Jesus highlights that fasting is not about outward rituals but about seeking God with the right intentions. In our daily lives, we can apply this by incorporating moments of reflection and abstinence, not just from food, but from distractions, to focus on God and serve others. The moral lesson is clear: true fasting is living a life of love, justice, and compassion, as taught by both Isaiah and Jesus. Let us embrace this essence, allowing our actions to reflect our devotion and commitment to God.