Friday after Ash Wednesday
Today begins the regimen of the Lenten abstinence from meat on Fridays. Why and how do Catholics fast? First let us consider why we fast. “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15) On every Friday of the year, but especially during Lent, we remember the day on which Jesus was taken from us, when He was executed, laying down His life on the cross. If we think about anyone who has received the news of the loss of a beloved family member or friend, it affects their whole person. The sorrow in their heart takes away even their appetite. If they had been planning to go out to eat, they will probably tell whoever they were going to accompany that they have just received some difficult news and will stay home instead. We fast to have our appetite try to feel a bit of the heart’s sorrow as we remember the loss of the bridegroom of our souls on that terrible Friday in Jerusalem.
But how are Catholics called to fast? Are we supposed to take our favorite foods and simply throw them away? Not at all! Canon law requires abstinence from meat on Fridays. Yet, more than this simple minimum, our Lenten sacrifices are to be done in such a way that they help us grow in love of God and love of neighbor. The prophet Isaiah cries out the message of the Lord: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly… sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” (Isaiah 58:6-7) Perhaps we are not buying dessert during Lent, or we are taking some time away from a pastime we would normally enjoy. Do we know a charitable organization that could use a donation? Do we know a service where we could volunteer? Better yet, do we know the needs of the folks who live in our neighborhood? Can we prepare a meal for a family who has had someone in the hospital recently? Do we know a family that is struggling to make ends meet?
As we gaze upon Christ Crucified, let us embrace the sacrifices of Lent for Him. Let us choose sacrifices that will allow us to serve and honor our neighbor whom Christ has loved so much as to purchase their salvation at the price of His own Blood.