Fasting that Frees
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Isaiah 58:6-7
Is this not rather the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of Expansive Charity—that my personal sacrifices during Lent would result in a greater love and tangible service to those in need.
Reflection
Isaiah challenges the idea that fasting is just a “spiritual diet.” If our Lenten sacrifices only make us grumpy or self-focused, they miss the mark. To grow closer to Jesus, we must realize that He identifies with the hungry, the naked, and the oppressed. When we “untie the thongs of the yoke” for someone else—perhaps through a kind word, a donation, or a moment of our time—we are meeting Jesus in His distressing disguise. Let your fasting create a “hunger” in you that can only be satisfied by doing God’s work in the world.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post