View from the Vicarage Moving beyond “giving up chocolate for Lent” Visiting Ethiopia I was always rather ‘when’ you fast. Jesus assumed amazed at the discipline of the that his disciples would fast. surgeons I worked alongside. But why would we fast in a Fasting was such a part of their sophisticated western culture? culture and that of the Ethiopian There are many reasons to fast orthodox church that everybody and many examples in scripture fasted for a day each week. It was hot where fasting is mentioned. and dry, the days in the operating I have chosen three reasons theatre were long and arduous but for us to consider . all, irrespective of faith, fasted. Sometimes we have difficult and Fasting in our western culture is possibly life changing decisions to unpopular for a number of reasons– make. A period of fasting to allow us unless of course we need to shed a few time to pray or reflect–rather than to pounds after the festive season. Lent eat–brings us closer to God. Missing is probably the only time when out of a meal a day for a few days may help tradition, Christians give up something, us to see the issues more clearly. eg alcohol or chocolate to identify with We may be approaching a crucial the suffering of Jesus during his passion. time in our nation or as individuals. Fasting is certainly not unique to the The corona virus pandemic is Christian faith. Muslims, Hindus and such a time. Our emergence from the detoxing New Agers all recommend this time of repeated lockdowns is it. Usually people fast for a specific vital. Will we be able to learn and reason or purpose. It is intentional. apply lessons we have learnt to our So what did Jesus have to say families, communities and church life. about fasting. Jesus himself fasted The prophet Isaiah saw an in the desert at the time of his opportunity to set his people free baptism and before he was to face from the injustices that afflicted them. his temptations in the desert. For him fasting as a prerequisite for He taught his disciples to fast, but this deliverance was inevitable. persuaded them not to do it in a How many social injustices do we to way that would draw attention to seek to erase even within our own land. themselves. Make sure you continue to Politics alone cannot reverse these look well and healthy, he said, and not injustices but when the people of God to look downcast with ash on your face. are united in prayer and prepared to For Jesus is wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ fast then God can and will intervene. you fast you should do it this way, but
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