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“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They
neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be
fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But
when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may
not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is
hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Matthew 6:16–18
Many today have abandoned the holy practice of fasting. Fasting is
a powerful penitential practice that bestows great benefits upon
the soul. The act of self-denial from certain food and drink,
choosing instead simple nourishment from time to time, such as
bread and water, or a reduced amount of food, greatly strengthens
the soul and disposes a person to many spiritual blessings. Too
often, we live for fleshly satisfactions and fall into the trap of
trying to indulge our appetites on a regular basis. But doing so
has the negative effect of tempting us to neglect the more
important spiritual desires for holiness. By depriving ourselves of
sensory delights from time to time, we become more disposed to seek
the true and lasting delights that come only from God’s grace.
Therefore, this passage above presumes that we do regularly fast
and engage in other forms of self-denial.
Do you fast? Do you engage in other forms of self-denial on a
regular basis? Daily prayer, reading the Scriptures, learning about
the lives of the saints, and regular participation in the
Sacraments all lead us closer to God and make us holy. But fasting
and self-denial are also very important, so it is essential that we
strive to embrace them as a part of our spiritual growth.
In this passage, Jesus specifically calls us to seek the interior
rewards that come from fasting and self-denial. He points out that
if we use fasting as a way of gaining praise from others, then we
lose the spiritual benefits of our fasting. Prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving must all be done in a way that they are as hidden as
possible so that our acts are truly sincere and not done so as to
receive the earthly rewards of the admiration of others.
Additionally, the lesson taught in this Gospel can also be applied
to other areas of our lives. For example, if you are suffering from
some illness or some form of bodily pain or discomfort, then of
course you should seek the necessary medical attention. But these
physical ailments also offer us another opportunity for spiritual
growth when they are embraced in a silent and interior way. Even
our pain or discomfort can be transformed into grace if we choose
to embrace it with joy, offer it to God as a sacrifice, and keep it
to ourselves as a silent gift given to God.
Reflect, today, upon your practice of fasting, as well as every
other opportunity you have each day to make silent and interior
sacrifices to God. If you do suffer from some daily cross that is
beyond your control, then try to turn it into a spiritual offering
to our Lord. And if you are able to freely embrace fasting on a
regular basis, then try to prayerfully commit to this practice. Try
to do it every week, especially on Friday in honor of the Good
Friday sacrifice made by our Lord. Don’t underestimate the value of
these hidden sacrifices. Make them a regular part of your spiritual
life and God will bestow upon you many spiritual riches from
Heaven.
My sacrificial Lord, You denied Yourself of many earthly
delights, especially when You fasted for forty days in the desert.
Help me to take seriously this obligation to fast and to mortify my
appetites. And help me to do so in a hidden way. May my life
continually imitate Your perfect sacrifice so that I may become
more like You every day. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Ivan Makarov, Public domain, via Wikimedia
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