*Short reflection for Friday 19/2/21 after Ash Wednesday. Isaiah 58:1-9; Mt 9:14-15*.

*Theme: A fast pleasing to God*

The prophet Isaiah warns of the pratice of fasting mixed with social injustices and condemned it. Our worship must be linked with solidarity to the poor  otherwise it's sterile and doesn't please God. Instead of imposing ourselves, instead of   just talking, is a way of renouncing ourselves, a way of fasting.

Fast  in order to refuse to be selfish, fast to avoid speaking ill of others, fast to stop lies,  fast to stop wanting to be the most important than the others. Fasting is giving the other a turn, who also wants to express his/her ideas, or the way of thinking. Let's hear them! Let's be charitable, let's fast, let's give up wanting earthly pleasure always. 

In the gospel, the  Pharisees and John the Baptist's disciples, when asking Jesus that question, why his disciples didn't fast while they did, were really criticizing the fact that they did not fast. As if fasting were the last word in practice of holiness. Fasting is important, yes, and Jesus praised it. However, as Master he said, there is no point in fasting at a party, or at a banquet when the bridegroom is present. So his disciples were celebrating because he the master was with them. However, after He was gone, then fasting would be appropriate. Now is our appropriate time, now is our favourable time, now is our acceptable time, let's fast, according to our possibilities, according to our health. But let us not forget that spiritual or behavioral fasting is possible at any age.

Question: Since Ash Wednesday were you able to fast? what can you say you fasted from apart from eating? 

Prayer: Lord Jesus infuse your spirit in us to guide us during this lent, that as we fast, we maybe united with you. May our fast also open us up to the love of one another. Amen.

Have a fruitful lenten season.

Pax-Peace 🙏🏾 Fr Ralph Jnr .