Jesus’ teachings were radical because they focused on the conversion of the heart rather than external behaviors. He transformed people by helping them rearrange their priorities and refocus their choices.
Today’s readings focus on fasting. We should be prayerfully considering the kinds of fasting to which the Lord is calling us during this season. It’s important that we do not simply drift into Lent with no plan. We want to enter into it with all of our hearts.
Jesus wants us to open our eyes to the fact that true fasting is much more than just our willing abstention from food. Fasting has both interior and exterior aspects. Exteriorly, we abstain from eating a certain food or do acts of charity. Interiorly, we aim to cut into our natural tendency to satisfy our own needs and desires. This frees us from our self-centeredness so that we can focus on both the will of God and the needs of others.
During this Lent, let us feast on God’s merciful love and His presence in our lives. May our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving reveal our inner hunger for God.
