Welcome to the fourth edition of our Lent Challenge!

Fasting invites us into a deeper spiritual journey, but its true purpose often eludes us. In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the fasting Pharisee fails to find justification, whilst the tax collector, though not fasting, leaves justified (Luke 18:9-14).

This is not a new issue, as the topic of fasting also features in the Old Testament:

“Is this the fast I have chosen, a day for people to humble themselves? Do you know what the fast I delight in is? This is what the Lord says: ‘Loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke; set the oppressed free and break every yoke. Share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, clothe them, ¹ and do not turn away from your own flesh and blood. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear.’”  (Isaiah 58:6-8a)

Does fasting, then, make any sense, and what does it have to do with loosening the chains of injustice?

The Latin name for Lent is Quadragesima, meaning “fortieth,” as it lasts for 40 days. In the early Christian period, this became the time for instructing those preparing for baptism, who received the sacraments of initiation at Easter. It is participation in the 40-year journey through the wilderness, the road from slavery to the Promised Land. In the 40 days we draw closer to God: Moses stayed with the Lord for 40 days, Elijah travelled alone for 40 days before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19). Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit for 40 days, where he was tempted by Satan and ministered to by angels.

God is present at the beginning of the journey—He calls Moses to Himself, sends food to Elijah through an angel, and prompts Jesus by the Spirit. Along the way, He sustains us—with miracles, manna, and water flowing from a rock. At the end of the journey is Easter—the meeting with the risen Lord.

The 40 days, then, is not primarily about our own effort. God calls us to give him access to our chains, to dive into His care, as He leads us on the path to freedom. “Therefore, I will allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:16). This is not yet the land of milk and honey. When the manna is sweet, it’s good, but it’s difficult when the bread of slavery seems sweeter in our memories. Stepping away, renouncing our usual escape routes, can help us realise why something is important to us. Is it truly important, or does it just distract us from something else? Does it help us survive until the next frustration, or does it help solve the problem? In Ignatian tradition, this is the role of silent prayer. Through fasting, we can enter for 40 days into a wilderness of our life, asking God to free, sustain, and lead us. To give us the courage to face the pain we cause and the pain that we suffer. Asking him for healing. Then, from prayer, joyful fasting arises. From fasting, selfless charity. Trust in the One who gives us life. (Matthew 6)

Let us not fast by our own strength. Just as when we want to play, we need to be at least two of us, it is so for forgiving, and for healing. Let us seek God, let’s try to open our lives to Him. And with openness to surprises, we can look carefully to see where freedom grows: Where does giving up on something become easy? Where does our time together become joyful? How can we live a little more simply? Where can we help?

It is not the goal in itself, but it is not bad that this benefits our body and soul. Benefits those close to us, and even those living far from us. And benefits the created world around us. “…a tree is recognised by its fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit.” (Luke 6:43-44). This is what God-pleasing fasting looks like. This is how it makes sense to take on the wilderness on the path of freedom, trusting in the coming of the risen Lord.

Kiss Ferenc SJ, Arló Jezsuita Jelenlét

Does this Church Promote the Benefits of a Meat-free Diet?

In this interesting 3 minute BBC documentary,  the late Dr Michael Mosley, visits a church congregation in the USA where half of the worshippers eat meat and the other half don’t!  

Which section of this group are expected to have a higher life expectancy? Watch to find out!