Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 311

As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.

Fasting appears often in the scriptures, and is used in three different kinds of prayer. It is first a sign of grief. Understandably, those who are afflicted with great sorrow have no appetite for food, and sometimes must be persuaded to eat. 

Secondly, it expresses sorrow for sin, which should be accompanied by a loss of appetite. I knew a fellow who admitted he was obsessed with eating. He said, "Due to my compulsion, I lost my health; I lost my friends; I lost my self-respect. I never lost my appetite." His regret, as real as it might have been, was never that deep. To rid himself of that form of idolatry, he had to eat less and face the unease that would follow.

"Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning...." Joel 2:12

Finally, fasting expresses an individual's and a group's sincere prayer,

"(Paul and Barnabas) appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith." Acts 14:23

During penitential seasons like Advent and Lent, and on Fridays, the traditional weekdays of fasting, devout Christians might not feel any particular guilt or remorse for their own sins. They might frankly admit that neither their recent past nor their youth was so scandalous as that of some of the greatest saints. But they practice fasting in solidarity with sinners; and they confess their own sinful impulses that might never have (yet) found the evil company which encourages such behavior. 

Baptism necessarily recalls the submersion of Jesus in the Jordan when he became guilty for us. He took upon himself the guilt, shame, and remorse of all humankind. Stepping into the water, was the first step on the long road to Jerusalem and Calvary. We have gone down into the water and set out with him by accepting our baptism. We admit we are "like the rest of men who have no hope." And we express both hope and hopelessness by fasting.  

As we fast and pray, it usually becomes obvious even to the most pious among us that none of us is far removed from the hypocrisy that stalks our consciousness. "We have sinned; we and our fathers have sinned."
Finally, the Lord reminds us that fasting must lead to acts of charity: 

Is this the manner of fasting I would choose,

a day to afflict oneself?

To bow one’s head like a reed,

and lie upon sackcloth and ashes?

Is this what you call a fast,

a day acceptable to the LORD?

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?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;

Your vindication shall go before you,

and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!” (Is 58:5-9)

BTW: If you read my homily of Sunday (1/18/26) yesterday, I posted an updated version at 2:45 pm. I didn't sleep well with the copy that went up at midnight, but I didn't finish the rewrites until 9:45 am, just before I presided at the 10am Mass. 

It took that long to figure out what I was trying to say; and hopefully, what the Lord was trying to say through me.  

Blessings on you.