The “Right” Fast?
By Mary Jeppson
We are now in our second full week of lent. We may have started to want to slack off on what we decided to do as a form of penance during these forty days. The question you may need to ask yourself is “Did I choose the type of fasting which truly relates to how I need to grow spirituality?”
In an article written by Sister Joyce Rupp a spiritual director and retreat facilitator, she listed some basic questions which can guide us in our choice of how to fast.
“What would help me to be more at peace?”
“Whom do I most need to love better?”
“What is lacking in my relationship with God?”
“How and when do I give service to others?”
“What am I doing to help alleviate the world’s suffering?”
She recommended spending time with these questions and to choose those which would be most challenging for you. “One specific form of fasting might be chosen for the entire six weeks or perhaps a different form for each week.”
She went on to make some suggestions for fasting as well as how to accomplish them. While fasting from food or drink we should focus ourattention on our spiritual hunger. When doing this we can remember the hungry people in the world as well as our dependency upon God for our needs. Fasting from one’s own time may be the most rewarding. When we cut back on activities that may be taking up too much time we can better focus on God, family and service to others in need. Fasting from words of criticism and negativity was her next suggestion. “We can choose to have words of kindness in our thoughts instead of angry, hostile ones.” We should not gossip or have harshness in our voices. It is a time to offer gratitude and affirmation to one another. Fasting from set behaviors “We can fast from a hardened heart and pray each day to forgive someone who has harmed us. We can omit self-centeredness and focus on reaching out to someone else at least once a day.” She goes on to suggest breaking the habit of gulping food and to eat slowly and appreciate the taste of food and to offer our gratitude to God for all our gifts. “We can eliminate jealousy from our hearts and look into the mirror each day and find our own self loveable.” We can fast from our fears, arrogance, negative faults and sadnesses to make room for the peace of God within us.
Each day with God’s help we need to renew our commitment to fasting. With the grace of God’s help and guidance it will be easier to stay faithful to our spiritual practice. “If anything, fasting can restore a deeper sense of satisfaction with life. We have greater inner clarity and a renewed commitment to give the totality of our hearts to God.”
As we continue to journey through these forty days of lent, think of it as a spring time – a time to grow. Fasting or giving up something is a test of the heart. It is a time to give our hearts completely to God. It is the time to let God take hold of our lives.