March 11, 2009

‘He Fasted’: A reflection on the Pope’s 2009 Lenten Message

When Lenten fast feels slow

By Michael Rapp

If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering, after three weeks of fasting, why you followed Jesus into the desert in the first place and whether or not you’ll make it to Easter. Sure, Jesus could do it, but he’s God become man and I’m far from it. The mirage of emerging from Lent more fit, less vulgar, or best friends with the annoying co-worker has quickly faded and now it’s time for a reminder of why we fast. So let’s pause for a moment, breathe deep, and remember why we’re suffering this fast together.

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, trusting in God to take care of them. God saw their fidelity and responded by refreshing them with miraculous waters from rocks in the desert. Like the Israelites, our reflection over Pope Benedict’s Lenten message, reminds us of our dependency on God. We turn to the rock of Truth to be filled with the refreshing waters of life in Christ. Our path begins with Christ’s, so we can ask ourselves if our fasting is like his.

Has the Holy Spirit driven me into the desert with Christ?

Pope Benedict reminds us that we often embark on the way of fasting for the wrong reasons. What is the spirit motivating our Lenten fast? Is it a spirit of vanity, a spirit of pride, or a spirit of competition? Is it a spirit of self-hatred, fear, or legalism? Each of us have particular spirits that tempt us, but they need not rule our soul. We have been baptized with Jesus Christ and live, now, in the freedom of his Spirit. We need not be afraid of these spiritual adversaries if we step out into the desert with Jesus in faith and love.

One short prayer can serve as a ready reminder of our purpose: “for the greater glory of God.” St. Ignatius of Loyola used this prayer throughout each day to remind himself that his thoughts, words and actions should always be dedicated toward God’s glory and not his own. We should pray the same during Lent, perhaps especially when fasting becomes difficult and we’re tempted to abandon our resolve. This will assure us that we, too, are fasting because the Holy Spirit of Love has moved us to sacrifice our lives with Jesus. Uniting our will with the Father’s in this way can be scary, though, because fasting seems to make more sense when we have worldly motivations. Now, when our co-workers, friends, children or parents ask us why they don’t see us around the office coffee pot in the morning, why the radio’s off in the car, why we’re unusually honest these days, or why our grocery cart is full of fish sticks, what will we answer? “Well, I’m Catholic,” we can say, “we fast to prepare for Easter.” Perfect. That’s plenty, and I’ll show you why.

We fast together as a Church

Pope Benedict recounts the thousands of years that Catholics have been fasting with Jesus in the desert. We are a part of this wonderful history. Our fasting is an act of love for Christ that unites us with all the billions of other Christians fasting around the world and so many who join us from the communion of saints in Heaven. It is a great, gift, then that we can talk to each other about our fast and ask each other, all the saints, and the angels for prayers that will help us to remain faithful to our resolve. We fast together for love of one another, and we can offer our sacrifices as gifts of prayer. So our fasting sanctifies the Church, but what’s more, it offers a witness of faith to the world.

Fasting is an eschatological sign

You’ll have to forgive me for using a big theological term to discuss Lent, but the reality of fasting as an eschatological sign is too beautiful for me to leave unmentioned. This phrase simply means that, when we fast, we are showing the world a little glimpse of Heaven. Our fasting is like an incredible voice shouting into the world that we don’t need sin to be happy. We don’t need television, or birth control, or revenge, or even chocolate to be happy because our happiness is in God! Jesus Christ has set us free to live with peace, rest and joy that the world cannot even understand. So we offer this great sign of hope to a world in desperate need. Our fasting is such a gift to the world!

If you find yourself struggling in your fast this Lent, take heart. If you haven’t yet committed to fasting or want to go deeper with Christ, there’s no time like the present. I am praying for you and fasting with you. Together, let us bear witness to faith in Jesus, and always for the greater glory of God.

Michael Rapp is a seminarian at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.