LENT: A TIME TO RESET

READINGS: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

My dear friends, as we continue our Lenten journey, the 2nd reading of this 2nd Sunday of Lent (Philippians 3:17-4:1) tells us not to “follow those who conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ, because their end is destruction; their God is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and their minds are occupied with earthly things”. It goes on to remind us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Cf verses 19-21). So, this reading is calling us to reorder our priorities and to reset our hearts. My friends, Lenten fast is exactly designed to do that.

There are two types of Lenten fast that resets the heart—the things we need to “fast from” and the things we need to “fast into”, or “binge on”, so to say. Scripture urges us to “Rend our heart, not our garments”, because it is the things that come from the heart that defiles us. So, when it comes to “Fasting From”, our priority needs to focus on those things that hold us back from being close to God and that drain the energy needed to live life fully. We are talking about things like anger, rage, bitterness, hate, wrath, retribution, and unforgiving spirit, for these do nothing for us but deprive us of God’s love and grace, and pollute, poison, and cause bitterness in our souls; things like envy, jealousy, grudge, regrets, self deprecation, misery, self-pity, and living in past mistakes for these only reward us with more negativity; things like malice, slander, calumny, gossip, castigation, and bearing false witnesses which in the long run only comes back to haunt us; things like procrastination, excuses, and unreasonable fear which only creates paralysis for what needs to be done today; things like brawling, reviling, yelling, deeming, bigotry, discrimination, looking and speaking down on others, which only hurts people emotionally and spiritually, and griefs the Holy Spirit. My friends, behaviors like these are the things we need to fast from. They reside in the heart, defile the human soul, and make us enemies of God.

But for our Lenten fast to be complete, we also need to fast into or binge on other behaviors, for Scripture says, “Is this not the kind of fasting that I desire: to loosen the chains of injustice, break every yoke, set the oppressed free, share your food with the hungry, provide the poor wanderer with shelter, clothe the naked [and] “edify with your speech” (Isaiah 58:6-11, Ephesians 4:29). So, in our fast, we must also reach out and touch humanity with compassion, empathy, and love; stand up for what is right, for what is just, for what is fair, and for what is noble. Our words need to bless, build, uplift, foster, encourage, comfort, appreciate, edify, and console others. Our eyes need to be conditioned to see the best; our words edify the soul; our hearts forgive the worst; our minds forget the bad, and our spirit celebrate the good and honorable. We need to be grateful and thankful for what we have, no matter how small; live in such a way as to live in joy and peace, not letting anyone drag us into endless and useless arguments, fights, quarrels, and negativity; and to do all we can to stay reconciled with God, with our neighbor, and with the self. This is what constitutes a 360-degree fasting that is sure to redeem and to save.

May we find courage, during this Lent, to do the needful and to develop a good relationship with God, as we grow into better versions of ourselves, Amen!