Daily Readings - Fri Feb 28 2020
Isaiah
1"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.2For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.3'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.4Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.5Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?7Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?8Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
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.