Fasting – from lack to fullness
THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – SATURDAY THIRD WEEK
March 14 – Hosea 5:15 – 6:6; Luke 18: 9-14
From lack to fullness – this week’s inspiration towards fullness, leads to the summit of such reflections: what I want is love not sacrifice. In fact, the whole discourse on fasting or any other “sacrifice” that is thought of as Lenten practice is brought into critical question in this teaching.
Sacrifices that we propose to undertake lose their real sense, if we fail to arrive at the real objective to which they have to bring us. For instance, if I am not able to relate normally on an ordinary basis with my brother or sister, if I am unable to respect someone with whom I share my daily moments of life, if I am not ready to see someone without tending to judge him or her even before getting to know the person truly…what would a great act of penitence mean or how would a big sacrifice I decide to make really matter? This is the wisdom of the Word today.
The Lord seems to say, the only sacrifice that the Lord considers worthy is the sacrifice of love – a sacrifice, an action that comes out of love! Whether an act or a decision comes out of love or not, only each one can say. This is so because there are so many opportunities of faking love, masking our selfishness, hiding out judgements, playing between the real and the good image of ourselves etc., hence truth alone can set us free, ready to receive what the Lord wants to communicate.
The Lord knows our hearts, our intentions. Even the best of our acts or practices can become worthless in the eyes of the Lord when they are not authentic and sincere. We know it, each one of us; and God knows it, the Spirit who penetrates our mind and our spirits.
At times we claim that we are not able do much in a situation around which does not help… but the question is – is this claim authentic, or is it an escapism or conformity! The point is, a true image of comes through whatever we do or not do… it might take time for others to notice, but before God everything is bright as the dawn… and the Lord invites us to set aside our seeking for public respect or professional image, and work on the inner image, the core of our selves – that is what truly matters to God, and that is what fullness is all about: love, more than sacrifice.
—————–
Fr Antony Christy is a Salesian Priest from 2005, who has a Masters in Philosophy (specialisation in Religion) and a Masters in Theology (Specialisation in Catechetics). He is currently pursuing his doctoral research in Theology at Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Walking with the Young towards a World of Peace and Dialogue is the passion that fires him.