Daily Readings - Fri Feb 28 2020
Isaiah
1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Matthew
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they 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.