We will very soon be entering the season of Lent. During Lent we take up the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices are meant to help us to turn from sin which separates us from the Lord as well as it helps to be freed from preoccupation with the things of this world that distract us from the love of God. Lent over and above all is a time given to us to be more purposeful in our turning from sin and more fully to the Lord.
Fasting, in particular, helps us to turn from our sins. Fasting is the practice of denying ourselves of the normal amount of food eaten during the day. The fasting and penance that we take up during this season aim at renunciation and rejection of sin. The catechism says that fasting is about interior conversion or conversion of the heart. It is not meant only to be an outward show or convenient way to give up unhealthy food or to diet but is meant to be penance that opens our hardened hearts to God’s grace to turn from our sin.
Fasting can also be offered for the reparation of our past sins as well as the sins of others and their conversion. Fasting, strictly speaking, has to do with abstaining from food but one could also fast from other things in life that take up our time and attention (social media, tv, sports, excessive time spent working, etc.) that otherwise could be spent in prayer, learning about the Catholic Faith, worshiping (Mass) or otherwise growing deeper in our relationship with Him and His Church.
This Lent let us take up, with renewed enthusiasm, this work of conversion of hearts and reparation for sins and turn more fully to the Lord.
Fr. Jacquemin
