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Fasting prepares our body and mind for prayer, and in prayer we
talk to God. We can grow spiritually only we can keep constant
relationship with God through prayer. Hence fasting and prayer
are indispensable for our spiritual life.
Jesus Christ spent hours everyday for prayer. He withdrew to
the wildeness and prayed. Jesus, after His baptism was led by
the Spirit to the wilderness. He stayed there fasting for forty
days. Through fasting and prayer He fought the evil temptations
and won victory over the devil.
The Fast is the time of intensified prayer and self discipline.
We discipline our body and mind through fasting and abstinence.
We give special effort to guard our mind from the temptations of
the evil. Thus our body and mind are prepared for prayer.
Feeding is essential for the sustenance and growth of the body.
But fasting and abstinence are equally or more essential for the
sustenance and growth of the total man. Man is more than body.
He is body, mind and soul. Fasting enables us to control our
emotions and bodily desires and to grow in prayer. When we
cater to or indulge in the urges of the body alone, the mental
and spiritual aspects of our life are neglected and they suffer
sickness. Fasting does not adversely affet the body but it
makes the body and mind sober and frees the soul to rise in
prayer. Fasting without prayer is worthless. It bears fruit
through prayer. Fasting should also be accompanied by acts of
love and kindness. Prayer without love and kindness does not
reach God.
In the early Church the believers distributed to the poor what
they saved by fasting. If we do not prepare our life in this
way God would not accept our prayers. Isaiah the prophet
describes the right kind of fasting which is acceptable before
God.
“Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed
go free, and to break every yoke?
Is 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?
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry’
and he will say, here I am”. (Isaiah 58: 6,7,9)
In addition to these the spirit behind the observance of fasting
is very important. The Jews fasted on Mondays and Thursdays.
These days were also the market days in Jerusalem. The
Pharisees went to the market places on these days and
distributed to the poor what they saved by fasting. When they
appeared before the public on these days they used to wear a
dismal look and they disfigured their faces that their fasting
might become noticeable. Christ calls them hypocrites.
Fasting, prayer or almsgiving observed with gestures that
attract public attention shall never be rewarded. Jesus said
that when they fasted they should make themselves cheerful.
When we focus our attention on the externalities the inner
spirit of fasting is lost. It may lead to hypocrisy and self
deceit. Humility is the spirit of genuine fasting.
Thus fasting shall be accompanied by prayer, discipline of mind,
acts of love and humility. |
