{"id":44247,"date":"2014-03-04T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2014-03-04T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=44247"},"modified":"2014-03-04T08:13:11","modified_gmt":"2014-03-04T14:13:11","slug":"fast-lent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/fast-lent\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do we fast during Lent?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tumblr_mtavhdvESW1st5lhmo1_1280\"<\/a>Lent is now upon us and it will soon be time for fasting and abstaining from meat.\u00a0 Why do we do these things and why is it necessary to fast in our spiritual life?<\/p>\n

A few days ago I was in line for confession and ended up staring at and thinking about the cross on the altar.\u00a0 It came to me that I was there waiting for the sacrament of reconciliation because of that cross.\u00a0 The fact that I believe<\/span> that He died for me on the cross – that is the reason that I place my whole life at the foot of that cross.\u00a0 Because of that cross I have forgiveness and it is the reason that I seek His mercy and His light each time I return to confess my sins.<\/p>\n

Jesus had no sin and He had no necessity for repentance, yet he took 40 days to be in the desert, praying and fasting in preparation for his ministry.\u00a0 Then why wouldn\u2019t we who are sinners, need to fast?<\/p>\n

Our Beloved came and He became flesh.\u00a0 We have been saved.\u00a0 The passion and resurrection of Christ is the basis of who we are and how we live our lives.\u00a0 We should always be focused on this as Christians, but we have a great opportunity this season to remember this and to regain strength in our spiritual journey.\u00a0 The liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church is a beautiful gift.\u00a0 During each season, we have the opportunity to reflect and direct our focus on the life of Christ.\u00a0 It is like a living journey of the Gospel.\"tumblr_mve3mr27d41st5lhmo1_1280\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Jesus said when He was tempted in the desert, \u201cIt is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes forth from the mouth of God.\u201d Matthew 4:4<\/b><\/h2>\n

Food is good and yes we need it to survive, but it is a constant focus in our lives. \u00a0\u201cWhat are we going to eat today?\u201d we ask. \u00a0\u201cWhat is for dinner?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m hungry!\u201d \u00a0We see something tasty and we cannot resist.\u00a0 The body certainly has a way of dominating us.\u00a0 Fasting is a way of taking that focus and directing it to God. \u00a0Fasting, when done with the heart and with the intention of penance or prayer, helps our soul be elevated to God.\u00a0 When we eliminate the priority of feasting all the time, we can direct our minds and hearts to loving God.<\/p>\n

Fasting also helps us have a greater appreciation for food that we have.\u00a0 There is more temperance and self-restraint.\u00a0 It is a discipline for the body that we are in need of and it is necessary.\u00a0 In many parts of the bible in our story from Moses to Paul, significant events happened after someone or a people fasted.\u00a0 Let us expect amazing things to happen in our souls and in our lives as children of God in our fasting!<\/p>\n

The church asks us to fast (have only two small meals, no snacks, and a moderate meal) and to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. \u00a0But there are many different ways we can fast.\u00a0 We can fast from a favorite food or from something here and there which we crave or which is an excess in our life.\u00a0 We can offer it in prayer, be thankful for what we have, and teach the body that our soul has much higher priorities \u2013 a union with Christ and a life beyond what is in this world.<\/p>\n

That is why we should try to not return to uncontrollable excessiveness when Easter comes.\u00a0 Yes, it will be a time to enjoy the feast, but with temperance.\u00a0 We should come out of Lent converted in some manner so that we may continue along in our mission to live our lives closer to Christ each day.\"tumblr_mtag5zve3g1st5lhmo1_1280\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We start Lent with ashes and by hearing the words, \u201cRemember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.\u201d But when we celebrate Holy Week at the end of Lent, we remember that that is not the end.\u00a0 We renew our Baptismal promises and we proclaim the \u201cAlleluia\u201d with fervor and firmness at Easter because that is our joy and our greatest hope.<\/p>\n

We celebrate holidays such as the independence day of our country. Why?\u00a0 Because we remember that we were freed from a country or an unjust reign.\u00a0 Our country is our pride and we have freedom!\u00a0 For that very same reason we have Lent, to walk with the Word of God, with Jesus Christ himself up to the glorious celebration of the Resurrection.\u00a0 The Kingdom of God is our reason and we have been freed from sin because of the battle that was won on the cross on one Good Friday afternoon.\u00a0 This is a grand motive to participate in Lent with intention.\u00a0 Reflect on how much our Savior loves us.\u00a0 He awaits for us, there in a quiet place, away from the world, to love us even more deeply.\"tumblr_mrraat0H431st5lhmo1_1280\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lent is now upon us and it will soon be time for fasting and abstaining from meat.\u00a0 Why do we do these things and why is it necessary to fast in our spiritual life? A few days ago I was in line for confession and ended up staring at and thinking about the cross on… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,90],"tags":[619,55,109,331,1956,2228,138,330,591,2227,698,2229,627],"class_list":{"0":"post-44247","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-blog","7":"category-faith-blog","8":"tag-ash-wednesday","9":"tag-catholic-2","10":"tag-church","11":"tag-cross","12":"tag-fast","13":"tag-food","14":"tag-freedom","15":"tag-jesus","16":"tag-lent","17":"tag-repentance","18":"tag-sin","19":"tag-temperance","20":"tag-temptation","21":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44563,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/slipping-lent-questions-lenten-sacrifices\/","url_meta":{"origin":44247,"position":0},"title":"Slipping Up in Lent – Questions about Lenten Sacrifices","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"March 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"When we start Lent with a day like Ash Wednesday, it sets a somewhat somber tone for the season. This is a season of sacrifice, penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Definitely sounds like a no-fun zone. Thinking about doing something that makes you happy? Save it for Easter!\u00a0This is at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Questions About Lenten Sacrifices","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/QuestionsAboutLentenSacrifices-630x419.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44591,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/booze-lenten-reflection\/","url_meta":{"origin":44247,"position":1},"title":"Booze! A Lenten Reflection","author":"Trenton Henrichson","date":"March 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"When I started to write this, the sun was still setting on Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season had officially begun. I didn't know until the sun rose that morning what it was God really wanted me to write about. While my more experienced cohorts in the ACNM were suggesting that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"NCI_Visuals_Food_Beer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/NCI_Visuals_Food_Beer-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":38819,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/03\/beauty-of-truth-podcast-ep-23-what-is-the-purpose-of-penance\/","url_meta":{"origin":44247,"position":2},"title":"Beauty of Truth Podcast Ep 23 – What is the Purpose of Penance?","author":"Beauty Of Truth Podcast","date":"March 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"[powerpress] Ep 23 - What is the Purpose of Penance? \u00a0 Questions 1. How can prayer remedy sin? Penance: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Disordered relationships (attachment to creatures) 2. Didn\u2019t Jesus pay for all of our sins on the cross? 3. How can giving up something we need be good for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beauty of Truth Podcast"","block_context":{"text":"Beauty of Truth Podcast","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/podcast\/beauty-of-truth\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/BeautyOfTruthPodcastLogo-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":365517,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2017\/02\/a-lent-of-luminous-darkness-and-wild-seeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":44247,"position":3},"title":"A Lent of Luminous Darkness and Wild Seeds","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"February 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I love Lent. I am always happy to hear that I am dust, and that to dust I shall return. 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She doesn't know what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Intermittent-Fasting","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Intermittent-Fasting-300x223.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":143719,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/metanoia-explained-by-cats\/","url_meta":{"origin":44247,"position":5},"title":"Metanoia Explained by Cats","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"August 27, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Catholics have a whole vocabulary that is unfamiliar to most people. Most of it is words that have stuck from the original greek or latin and are usually needed because there really is no other way to say it (e.g. Transubstantiation). 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