Daily Readings - Fri Feb 19 2021
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 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.