Fasting During Lent

My mom and dad are involved in organizing something called “The 40 days for life.” This is an activity involving prayer, concern, fasting, outreach, and vigil -- during the 40 days of Lent. This will take place in front of the Planned Parenthood facility in Bremerton, WA, during its hours of operation. This is such a wonderful event for their community. I hope that their event will be a catalyst for other “40 days for life” around Washington State and the whole country.

I spoke with my mom on the phone this morning. She was relating to me the importance of Lent as being a time of preparation for battle—And how often as Christians we go to fight the battle without the proper preparation and training.

I have never really thought about it this way… Upon meditating on her idea further, I thought about how crucial prayer, sacrifice, and fasting are in our Lenten journey (and in preparing for battle). Without these elements, Lent and Easter will likely have little impact on our souls. Jesus gave us different liturgical seasons that repeat year after year as opportunities to get back on track and radically conform our hearts to the will of His Father. When we pray, sacrifice, and fast… we are conforming our will to the will of God the Father. So Lent is kind of like a spiritual boot camp that prepares us to fight the good fight.

In the liberal Catholic Church today, I see many people using Lenten fasting as an opportunity to focus on third world countries around the world. I remember in my High school youth group, we did a 24 hour fast together and learned all about different cultures who were not as privileged as our own.

Please, do not misunderstand… I see the poor and underprivileged as people who need our love, compassion, care, attention, and physical/financial support. But I think that it is very seldom, that we as Catholics are catechized in the true meaning of fasting during Lent.

Because of this view on fasting, many people probably think “I am fasting to align myself with those who are hungry and starving.” Although this can be a good point to consider… I wonder if we fall back on that sentiment too often because that is what makes the most sense in our culture today. Fasting purely for love of God seems like a harder concept to grasp.

When Jesus went into the desert to pray and fast for 40 days—he was preparing for His Crucifixion and ultimate battle with Satan. He was not fasting so he could contemplate all of those who are hungry and have no food. He was fasting to maintain bodily control—so as to resist all temptations presented to Him.

I invite you to fast and sacrifice this Lent with me—for love of God. Let us focus on our spiritual “Drill Sergeant”—for He will train us for His purpose, so that we can successfully fight the good fight on all fronts: respecting all human life from conception to natural death, and leading those lives to heaven.

For this Lent I will be sacrificing the use of my computer, so I will not be able to publish any blogs until after Easter, but I do intend to write during Lent and post them later.

Peace be with all of you this Lent!