Prayer and Fasting

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father who is unscene; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting - going without food in order to spend time in prayer - is noble and difficult. It gives us time to pray, teaches self-discipline, reminds us that we can live with a lot less, and help us appreciate God's gifts. Jesus was not condemning fasting, but hypocrisy - fasting in order to gain public approval. Fasting was mandatory for the Jewish people once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The Pharisees voluntarily fasted twice a week to impress the people with their "holiness." Jesus commended acts of self-sacrifice done quietly and sincerely. He wanted people to adopt spiritual disciplines for the right reasons, not from a selfish desire for praise. Why do we do what we do? That is the question that all of us must answer. Many of us might say to ourselves, "I am going to do what I want and I really don't care what people think about me." What we don't realize is that if that were true, we wouldn't be saying that in the first place.

God bless you, J.H.