Daily Readings - Fri Feb 19 2021
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 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.