Guest Post: Holy Hunger (Part 1)
Today I’m delighted to welcome Dominic Meigh to the Restless Pilgrim website.
Dominic is a good friend of mine from England. He lives in the town of Cheltenham with his wonderful wife Mary. He is an extremely knowledgeable Catholic and an active member of his parish’s music ministry. This man knows far more about liturgical chant than is probably healthy…
This is the first guest post we’ve had here at Restless Pilgrim and I’m hoping that it’ll be the first of many to come. If you have an idea for an article which you would like to have published here, please contact me and we can try and work something out.
With Lent only a few days away, Dominic will be helping us prepare for it by speaking to us on a subject intimately related with this penitential season, the practice of fasting…
The Power of Prayer & Fasting
The Bishops of England and Wales have recently reinstated the practice of abstinence from meat on Fridays. Fasting (including abstinence) not only helps us to humble ourselves but it has also long been recognised as a powerful tool in intercession.
More and more people recognise this and are sensing God calling them to fast, particularly for ministry. But many are daunted at the prospect of going without food, fearing they cannot do it and consequently feel guilty. Fortunately, there is a more gentle way, but more on that tomorrow…
Faith of our Fathers
But first, what is fasting? Fasting is doing without food for spiritual purposes either individually or as a group. In the Early Church, regular fasting was seen as normal. Wednesday and Friday were designated fast days in memory of the betrayal by Judas and the death of the Lord (Didache, Chapter 8). Our Lady at Medjugorje has called us to return to this ancient practice.
The Scriptures give dramatic examples of the power of fasting. Whenever the people of Israel were in danger or needed a miracle in a desperate situation they prayed and fasted, and they were rescued. Jehoshaphat was threatened by three large armies (2 Chronicles 20) and Esther (4:16) by the extermination of the Jews. Daniel pleaded for the restoration of the Temple (Daniel 9) and Ezra (8:21-23) prayed for a safe journey to Jerusalem with the Temple treasures.
Many movements and saints in history have recognised the importance of fasting. St Francis, whose influence on the Church is inestimable, fasted. John Wesley would not ordain any Methodist minister who would not fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Today the 40 Days for Life movement tells extraordinary stories of thousands of babies saved from abortion, clinics closed and staff converted, giving continuing witness to the power of prayer and fasting.
The testimony of many is that prayer with fasting transforms lives and ministries. Might this be a clue as to why today we lack the power of the Early Church? Jesus makes it clear that some spirits are only cast out by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). There are many who pray in intercession but few who pray and fast.
God’s Choice of Fast
In the Book of Isaiah there is a rich teaching on fasting. In Chapter 58 there are promises (vv8-12) associated with it: healing, righteousness, protection, answered prayer, guidance, strength, …but there is a caveat. In the previous verse (v7), Isaiah describes God’s choice of fast:
“Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and turn not from your own kin”
We are told that then the blessings above will flow (v8). The financial savings from fasting can be used to contribute towards charities. This money could also be used to buy fair trade products, thus reducing the exploitation of the poor.
So there you have it: prayer, fasting and alms-giving. As the Early Church Father St. Peter Chrysogus said:
Fasting is the soul of prayer; mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others – St Peter Chrysologus