Ash Wednesday: A Time to Fast from Fear

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This rather is the fasting that I wish:Releasing those bound unjustly,Untying the thongs of the yoke;Setting free the oppressed,Breaking every yoke;Sharing your bread with the hungry,Sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;Clothing the naked when you see themAnd not turning your back on your own.

(Isaiah 58)

The prophet Isaiah challenges the people of God to consider a new way to worship and serve God. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and carrying throughout Lent, we Catholics and all Christians have a special season for our fasting and repentance.  Together, through our parishes, congregations and organizations… Let’s pray and act on Isaiah’s “fasting”:

  • Let’s fast from our fear of others and celebrate what we share
  • Let’s ask ourselves “How are we turning our backs on our own? How can our parish or congregation embrace all immigrants, including many of whom share our faith tradition”?
  • Let’s set free the oppressed in an unjust immigration system and an unjust legal system where people are denied the right to vote
  • Let’s fast from actions that hurt God’s Creation

As we fast in this way we are given great hope: “If you remove from your midst oppression… Then the light will rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday… “ (Isaiah 58)

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