Against any who would assert that fasting is not necessary in the New Covenant, we have the clear words of our Lord, “When you fast” and “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” It is plain to see from these verses that Jesus expects His disciples to imitate His example and fast, even providing instructions on certain behaviors to avoid when fasting.
Holy Mother Church wisely chooses readings during the first few days of Lent to warn us away from the errors that might accompany this season of penance. By setting before us the practical maxims of Christian self-denial, She ensures that we are able to derive as much profit as possible from this season. Among these errors are those related to the practice of fasting. On one extreme, that fasting from physical goods is unnecessary and on the other extreme, that external fasting without internal conversion is enough.
Fasting from the Heart
The twin of that first error is more insidious as it can creep into the heart of one that wants to please God by his sacrifices and penances. It is the mistake of prioritizing the external practice of fasting to the detriment or exclusion of the interior conversion that should accompany such an act of repentance. “Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high!”
Putting it into Practice
A practical lesson we should draw from this is that our Lenten penances should be our penances. As in they should not place an undue burden on others. Some degree of this might be unavoidable for those you live in close proximity with, but they should not be sacrificing so that you can sacrifice. Such a situation would miss the point of the humbling act of fasting by making your desires the center of attention. Rather, we should seek to make our fasting subject to the rule of charity.
