Reflections On the Necessity of Fasting in the Christian Life
St. Ambrose, in his commentary on this Gospel, observes that it is both a “mighty voice of warning” and a “declaration of mercy”. It is a mighty voice of warning because this instructs us what our fate will be should we reject Christ. It is a great declaration of mercy because we are offered a chance of conversion.
Like Nineveh, you and I are deserving of death (Romans 6:23). Not only of earthly death, but eternal death. St. Alphonsus Ligouri writes that he deserves “the contempt of Hell.” These words are not flowery piety from an old saint, but the truth. God, in his great mercy, has given us a chance to convert from our sinful ways, and abide with him. How are we to do this? Our reading from the book of Jonah shows us.
Jonah comes to Nineveh and preaches “Forty more days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Jonah preaches the truth, which is true charity. In response, the Ninevites believed God and proclaimed a fast. The declaration of fast reminds us of the necessity of action in conversion. In other words, calls to conversion do not merely pertain to the intellect, it necessarily entails a response (James 2:24). It is not enough to simply believe in God, we must live our lives loving him. St. Thomas tells us “To love God is more excellent than to know him.”
To love God, we must fast. St. Basil tells us “Penance without fasting is useless and vain; By fasting we satisfy God.” There are several ways in which fasting aids us in our spiritual life. I will focus on one.
Namely, fasting turns our focus away from earthly goods and towards spiritual goods. By fasting, we are reminded “It is not by bread alone, that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). We do not fast from food because food is evil, but because we were made for higher things that food. St. Isaac the Syrian sums it up beautifully “When a man begins to fast, he straightway yearns in his mind to enter into converse with God.” Let us, as we fast during this season of Lent, turn our focus away from the things of this earth and towards greater and more sublime things.
Do we truly believe ourselves to be unworthy before God? If so, how should that change our view of life?
Do we strive to do penance in accordance with our state in life? Is fasting an essential part of our spiritual life?
I also want to put a post script here for anyone reading this who may have health issues, eating disorders, or who cannot fast for any reason:
Be consoled in the Lord, and do not lament not being able to fast. I will here refer to the great St. Francis de Sales who told a woman with child who still desired to practice penance “You will not lack mortifications in the heart, which is the only sacrifice God desires from you.”
I would be honored if you would pray for me.