Lenten Mini-Opus

Vanity ^ | 3/1/06 | Gridlock

[Buggman]

Just tossing my two cents into the ring:

As you guys know, I have nothing against tradition. Just the opposite. I just believe, per the Lord's example, that all tradition must be tested against the written Word of God and altered or tossed out where there is the least conflict with the plain meaning of Scripture.

I don't think there's anything wrong with Lent as a tradition. In fact, there's a Jewish corrallary on the other side of the sun, where it is traditional to fast for the 40 days leading up to Yom Kippur, a season called T'shuva (Repentence). The tradition came out of another tradition which said that those were the 40 days that Moses fasted before the Lord on Israel's behalf after the golden calf incident (Ex. 34:28) and descended on Yom Kippur with the new stone tablets, showing that God had forgiven Israel and restored the covenant.

It is likely that it was during that same period that Yeshua fasted in the wilderness and was tested by the Adversary.

However, P-Marlowe is quite right that anyone who fasts on a particular day should avoid boasting of it in any way, nor should he see the fast as an avenue to righteousness in and of itself. Speaking (I believe) of Yom Kippur, Isaiah writes (and here I'll use the King James, which probably best expresses the poetry),

Wherefore have we fasted, say they,
and thou seest not?
wherefore have we afflicted our soul,
and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure,
and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate,
and to smite with the fist of wickedness:
ye shall not fast as ye do this day,
to make your voice to be heard on high.

Is it such a fast that I have chosen?
a day for a man to afflict his soul?
is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
wilt thou call this a fast,
and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and thy darkness be as the noonday:
And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought,
and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not.

Isa. 58:

Speaking, I believe, of the same season, Yeshua says,

And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Mat. 6:16-18)

The same applies to my Catholic friends who fast--that is, give up one or more pleasures--during Lent. There's nothing wrong with the tradition, though I would point out that Yeshua's disciples did not fast leading up to the Passover in which He was Crucified, for, "Yeshua said to them, 'Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast'" (Mat. 9:15).

However, don't fall into the trap of telling each other what you are giving up. First of all, you risk it becoming a matter of pride and one-upping each other, and secondly, Yeshua told us explicitly to do such things in private and before God, not openly before men.

Just MHO, worth exactly what you paid for it.

[P-Marlowe]

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:16-18 KJV)

[xsmommy]

i am familiar with the verse, i do not think that lenten fast is a terrible thing, so i guess i will just disagree with you. This is actually a verse that is read during Ash Wednesday Mass. go be happy in your hair shirt : )

[NeoCaveman]

See ya when you get back.

[P-Marlowe]

i do not think that lenten fast is a terrible thing...

No, any fast is a great thing. Just don't start a thread about how you are sacrificing something dear to your heart for lent. The minute you do that, you lose any spiritual reward you would otherwise have gotten for your sacrifice.

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard someone who was bragging about how they faithfully pay their tithes (on the gross, not the net) and quite frankly I cringed. Here was a person who had truly sacrificed, but who had just lost whatever treasure in heaven that sacrifice would otherwise have brought her. She got her reward when she publicly declared her sacrifice. I'm sure people admired her. I felt sorry for her.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:3-4 KJV)

So do your lenten stuff. That's great! Just please keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear about it. Not because I don't care, but because I do care.

[Revelation 911]

not sure if there is one marlowe - its just my Catholic roots showing - I see this as a good time of year to rededicate and refocus my heart on Christ and His sacrifice through fasting, praying and abstianing from a few habits....

each pang reminds me of how little i suffer for the Lord - and yet its so hard isnt it ?

[Revelation 911]

The bible teaches that if you are going to fast, that nobody should know about it. Everyone seems to brag up their sacrifices during lent. Hence whatever reward would be gained in heaven for such self sacrifice is lost as you get your earthly reward from the admiration of the world.

IMO - theres no harm in challenging someone to a level of worship theyve not yet experienced - FYI - I dont stand on the corner bragging.....I just asked you guys if you would think about joining me. If youd rather not, thats ok - were still brothers in Christ

FYI - I challenge my flock to fast as well - just as I challenge them to tithe and love one another with hearts that glorify God

[A knight without armor]

Ok. See you Monday, April 17. Meantime, keep your powder dry, your stick on the ice and don't take any wooden nickles.

[xsmommy]

i just don't see God up there saying GOTCHA! you opened your yap about what you gave up for Lent, therefore, it was all for naught. i think God knows our hearts and our intentions and will judge us accordingly. it is not up to us to judge each other.

[uncitizen]

You asked for Biblical basis, not necessarily specific Scripture right? So here's my take on it.

Jesus wandered in the desert for 40 days and was continuously tempted by the devil. But he never gave into temptation. We Catholics are asked to be Christ-like and make a 40-day sacrifice which will be tempting for us and in succeeding at that we honor His purity and the ultimate sacrifice of His life for our sins.