Friday March 4, 2022 St. Casimir
Why do we fast? The readings today are all about fasting. I ask again, why do we fast? Or better yet, do we fast? What type of fasting are we called to do? Think about how to prepare for a dinner party. We plan a menu. We make sure none of our guests have allergies. If they do, then we adjust accordingly. Our goal is for everyone to be welcome and eat free of fear. Then we shop. We select the best vegetables, freshest breads, choicest wines, richest desserts, the best ingredients we can find. Then we cook. We take time peeling and chopping, seasoning and simmering, mixing and baking. Then we carefully set our table. We use our finest table linens, best china and stemware, polish our flatware and candle stick holders, and create a lovely centerpiece. We work, but it is a labor of love. Who is invited to this labor of love? We go to all this trouble for friends and family, but do we ever do anything like this for God? Is God even invited? If not, then all the work gains us nothing. Yes, we should do loving things for those we know and care about, but can we extend that to those we don’t know. Doing this for loved ones fills us in a way, and that is good, yet—today we will feast, and we will still be hungry tomorrow. For what do we hunger? What really fills us Spiritually? Jesus tells us today that we cannot fast in the midst of joy (while the Bridegroom is present). Are we joyful? From what can we abstain that will actually fill us with joy? When the Bridegroom returns, what feast will be ready to share? What have we stored up, lovingly prepared, beautifully set out? What is our wedding gift to the Bridegroom? I have no answers for you. Only you can know what avoiding in your life will fill you with love. In the meantime, skip the latte, the cookie, the bourbon, social media, or whatever is your favorite indulgence while you search your heart. Lent is still young. We have plenty of time to fill our souls by fasting. I am not fasting much this Lent. Instead, I am going to try “Filling”. I plan on walking a lot with my Rosary, and there are a few books of the Bible that I want to read–Samuel I and II come to mind. I will fill my days with that. The flip side is that I will be fasting from Hallmark movies, crossword puzzles, and reading novels by doing those things. I hope my plan works. Pray for me and I’ll pray for you, too.