FAST
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this Friday after Ash Wednesday is, “Fast.”
It’s Lent and one of the
ideas for Lent is to focus on different ways we can be better as
Christians an as Human Beings.
The 3 standard
Lenten Practices are: Prayer - Fasting - and Giving Alms.
The practice I’m thinking of working on for this Lent is
Fasting.
But in the following way: to be more aware of the food I
eat.
To taste it more, to enjoy it more, to be more aware of
the realities and the connections about the food I eat in communion with all
people on the planet.
That’s possible
FASTING
Fasting is a practice in many religions: the various
Christian religious groups, as well as in Judaism, Islam and the older
religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.
We see in today’s
two readings instances of fasting: especially among the Jews.
Isaiah in today’s first reading moves away from seeing
fasting only as a food issue. Isaiah
warns us about not being a pain or a grouch.
Remember the old practice of someone giving up booze or smoking for Lent
and everyone in the family wishes they didn’t - because they have become itchy
and irritated and ill willed.
Isaiah also warns us about not making religion a way of
showing off. We’ll find that happening over and over in Jesus’ time. And we
find that in Chaucer and in literature and different stories down through the
centuries.
So Jesus and Isaiah move thinking about fasting way
beyond food.
For example, we can fast from speaking too much and
to listen more. We can fast from TV and
use that time for playing cards - or
talking with each other more or reading
or praying more.
FAST
When I hear the word “fast”- I can think of its opposite: “slow!”
I’m going to eat
slower this Lent.
When I’m eating, I’m going to reflect upon where food
comes from.
I’m going to try to be thankful for those who cook - who farm - those who are truck drivers who deliver
food to supermarkets. I’m going to think of cashiers - store managers, and on
and on and on.
I’m going to try to be more aware of the symbolism of the
table we eat at.
I’m going to think of those who plant wheat - those who
cut down and bring wheat to the mills - those who make flour - those who bake
bread.
So too wine and grapes.
I think of the summer I worked on Coca Cola trucks - it
gives me memories and an understanding of that kind of work.
How many times have we heard that every kid should work
as a waiter or waitress, dish waster, bus boy, what have you. I remember
working at BINGO as a kid - selling bagels, donuts, egg rolls, soda, coffee,
and soft drinks.
CONCLUSION
So instead of wolfing my food down - I can slowly be in
communion with all those who brought this food to my table.
I can be in communion with the poor and the hungry as
well.
I can slow down and enjoy my food as well. Amen.
