Wednesday, Week of Palms

In the readings for this day comes wisdom from the Prophecy of Isaiah (58:1-11).  Below, we quote only the portion of verses 3-10:

'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Here we find instruction in the fasting in which we should be partaking, not just here in the Great Fast, but throughout the entire year.  Loosing the bonds of wickedness.  Undoing heavy burdens.  Setting free those who are oppressed.  Sharing with the hungry, the outcasts, those in need of clothing, or indeed, and kind of need.

Have we taken to heart in our fasting the needs of those around us?  Do we even look, or are we so preoccupied with the emptiness of our stomachs that we bustle about, angered by feeling hunger which we bring on ourselves for the sake of 'spiritual benefit'.  But where is the benefit of being angered over fasting when we really do not want to do so?  Toward whom is our anger directed?  Towards fellow people in need?  Toward the Church for imposing such a constraint on me?  Or even toward God?

Here we hear the heart of God.  We come to understand that a "fast" is not only food.  A fast is to bring about works, good deeds, a view of the needs of those who are less fortunate than we are.

Have we begun to fast as God would have us do?  Or, are we another model of Israel????