Daily Readings - Fri Feb 28 2020
Isaiah
1"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.2Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.3'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.4Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.5Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?6"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?8Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
Matthew
14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"15And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will 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.