Friday after Ash Wednesday
First reading – Isaiah 58:1-9
The Fasting which the Lord is asking through the words of Isaiah is revolutionary. Fasting is fastened to the fraternity with the poor and the suffering. “Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?” So, fasting is doing justice, fasting is liberating, fasting is sharing. The fasting which the Lord want is about these – doing justice, liberating & sharing. And the Prophet Isaiah is even speaking about the consequences of this revolution. “Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.” There will be lot of light in the light of people around you and the wounds of our daily lives will be healed faster. The Presence of the Lord will be around us which is the most beautiful reality. Let’s reflect: how much amount of doing justice, liberating and sharing is in my fasting?
Friday 24 February
