Meditation of the day: the transforming power of fasting

"The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast." Matthew 9:15 Our carnal appetites and desires can easily cloud our thinking and keep us from desiring only God and His holy will. Therefore, to curb one's disordered appetites, it is useful to mortify them with acts of self-denial, such as fasting.

But during Jesus' public ministry, when he was with his disciples daily, it seems that self-denial was not necessary for his disciples. It can only be assumed that this was due to the fact that Jesus was so intimately present to them every day that his divine presence was sufficient to curb any disordered affection.

But the day came when Jesus was taken away from them, first with His death and then shortly thereafter with His Ascension into Heaven. After the Ascension and Pentecost, Jesus' relationship with his disciples changed. It was no longer a tangible and physical presence. What they saw was no longer a daily dose of authoritative teachings and inspiring miracles. Instead, their relationship with our Lord began to take on a new dimension of conformity to the passion of Jesus.

The disciples were now called to imitate our Lord by turning their eyes of faith to Him inwardly and outwardly by acting as His instrument of sacrificial love. And for this reason the disciples needed to control their carnal passions and appetites. Therefore, after the ascension of Jesus and with the beginning of the public ministry of the disciples,

Each of us is called to be not only a follower of Christ (a disciple) but also an instrument of Christ (an apostle). And if we are to fulfill these roles well, our disordered carnal appetites cannot get in the way. We must allow the Spirit of God to consume us and guide us in everything we do. Fasting and all other forms of mortification help us to stay focused on the Spirit rather than our carnal weaknesses and temptations. Reflect today on the importance of fasting and the mortification of the flesh.

These penitential acts are usually not desirable at first. But this is the key. By doing what our flesh does not "desire," we strengthen our spirits to take greater control, which allows our Lord to use us and direct our actions more effectively. Engage in this sacred practice and you will be amazed at how transformative it will be. Prayer: My dear Lord, I thank You for choosing to use me as Your instrument. I thank you because I can be sent by you to share your love with the world. Give me the grace to conform more fully to You by mortifying my disordered appetites and desires so that You and You alone can take complete control of my life. May I be open to the gift of fasting and may this penitential act help transform my life. Jesus I believe in you.

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