The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. We have been preparing for a fast. We had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day and now we are in Lent. We are now in a time of fasting and abstaining from meat. However Isaiah has another opinion on fasting. He is not talking about giving up things. Isaiah says to do something positive as a way to rend our hearts.
I gave up coffee for Lent one year. I was miserable. I had headaches from the withdrawal .
However, Isaiah says, “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke’ Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.“
We all lend money to relatives or friends and know their is a chance we will never get it back. Being older I don’t have the earning power I did as a young man. I remember years ago a nurse friend of my wife, Anna, had just recovered from a mastectomy. That year everyone got a bonus back in their taxes. It was about $500. I talked to my wife about my feeling that we should give the Money to David and Geneva. For some reason she did not object. So we gave them the money explaining that for some reason we were supposed to give them the money.
Turns out she was just home from the hospital and desperately wanted a shower but their water heater went out and they did not have the money. We did not miss it. They are still close friends now.
Acts of penance can take many forms but it is not limited to giving somethimg up for Lent. Let’s think of the positive acts we can do.
Responding timely with the Census could be a way. The figures help with funding for each state, roads and infrastructure, school projections and even adding or subtracting members to the House of Representatives. It helps everyone in the community.
I love Saint Mother of Teresa of Calcutta’s comment about not doing great things but many small things with great love.
We not only have a one on one relationship with God, but 1 John and all the Gospels say love one another. If we are temples of God and everyone else is a temple of God. Then it would make sense to treat everyone as if God resided in them, as well. Rending our heart and not our bodies is difficult but it is what we need to grow and have a successful Lent.
God Bless you always
Bob Burford
Please pray for my sister, Patti, who has a growth on her kidneys
