Pax Christi South

Is 58:1-9 talks about fasting and prepares the way for Jesus. Fasting is much more than an external practice. It is a practice of the heart. In Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton discusses things which get in the way of contemplative prayer—alcohol, television, and unchastity. His point is that we need to purify our hearts. We need to remove from our lives the obstacles to union with God. Few Christians seem to be aware of Paul’s condemnation of greed. Certainly, in these troubling financial times, Merton would have added greed to the list. All too often we fall into consumerism and amass goods and creature comforts at the expense of others. Yes, we save at Wal-Mart but who pays the real price?

Another point Isaiah is making is that we can fast and afflict ourselves and still not earn God’s presence. Why? Because we cannot earn it. God’s presence to us is pure gift. God is present to us for the asking. Contemplative prayer places us in God’s presence where he can speak to the ear of our hearts, as Benedict would say. We show up and  we are present to the Presence.

Contemplative prayer always leads to action. The fast God wants of us this Lent is an interior fasting that results in alleviating human misery. Untie the yokes. Release those who are bound unjustly in the economic wars. The tragic earthquake in Haiti has made us aware of the toll economic war has taken on that island nation over the years.(Incidentally, Gandhi believes that the economic wars are as deadly as shooting wars.) Set free the oppressed. Break every yoke. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Shelter the homeless. John Chrysostom says:

Indeed the soul should not only turn to God at times of explicit prayer. Whatever we are engaged in, whether it is care for the poor, or some other duty, or some act of generosity, we should remember God and long for God. The love of God will be as salt is to food, making our actions into a perfect dish to set before the Lord of all things. Then it is right that we should receive the fruits of our labors, overflowing onto us through all eternity, if we have been offering them to him throughout our lives. (De precatione).

 Jesus (Mt 9:14-15) picks up where Isaiah leaves off. He is openly challenging the purity and debt codes which the religious leaders used to oppress and control the people. Fasting will be necessary at some point in time for the reasons listed above. But, as Jesus speaks, he is present. He is proclaiming the Kin-dom. He is inviting all to the inclusive and festive table.

There is a place for fasting, prayer and almsgiving—our Lenten practices of the heart. These practices liberate us. They set us free of the false acquisitive self. They open our spirits to the love of God. We cast out fear and place our trust in God. I like to think of contemplative prayer as “I show up and I trust in God to show up.” We must fast , pray and give alms in order to empty our false selves and make room for the true selves in the depths of our being where we encounter the tremendous love of God. Let us celebrate Jesus’ presence to us and, at the same time, discipline ourselves, to open to him more fully. We truly live in the person, power and presence of the Risen Jesus.