What are you fasting from this Lent?

Today’s Gospel talks about how our fasting brings us closer to God and that even in his death he will remain with us. However, the question “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” intrigues me.

Others may not see this question in terms of how people react to another’s actions and then make a judgement, but that is the very thing that attracts my attention.

We often decide things about people based on what they do. For example, we see a student helping another student who has dropped his belongings all over the floor. We smile. This student is so kind to help another. We watch a person receive a kind word and gesture and we see the helping hand as wonderful. Judgements like these do not hurt anyone.

A person you do not know has cut you off in traffic. You decide that person is awful. How dare they be so careless and dangerous on the road! The person in front of you at the grocery store is taking their sweet time to unload their basket while speaking with the cashier. How dare they hold up the line! Judgements like these can be hurtful.

Many times we see things or hear things a person does and base our judgement on who they are. It is highly unfair, yet highly human. Judging someone unfairly is very easy. It takes no thought or effort but it is full of great harm to both the judge and the judged. We should strive to see God in everyone.

Precisely why the question, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” is so powerful for me. This lent I want to fast from making judgements about others, see the face of Christ in each person I encounter and bring myself closer to God who remains with me always.

Author: Diane Camara, Registrar