FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT A
HE FASTED…
MT 4: 1-11
MESSAGE
He fasted for forty days…
The Lord Jesus fasted not to gain physical fitness but to achieve spiritual maturity. His fasting was not motivated by options to be more healthy, lean, or muscle-toned. His goal was interior balance and wellness. Thus when the virus of temptations closed in, the Lord was ready to resist and not to be swayed into sin.
The Lord Jesus fasted not to display his robust will-power to express submission to a higher will. Some people see fasting as their own mastery over food, drink, and desires, thus proving their superiority over base instincts. But Jesus fasted to surrender his self-mastery to the Master of his heart, the Father.
The Lord Jesus fasted not as a remedy for sickness already endured but as a preparation for challenges to come. Sick people are asked to fast today to regain vitality after excess fats, sugar, or weight. Jesus’ fasting was instead a preparation to battle against the excesses of the world. Because fasting was part of his life, he lived simply, joyfully, and kindly, always open to the Spirit of God who moves him.
REFLECT
This Lenten season we are called to follow the Lord’s example of fasting. It depends on what you want to forego for the sake of God, for the sake of following his will, for the sake of your and other people’s salvation. The important thing is to fast like Jesus, and with Jesus. Amen.
