Note: Bawal ako mag post sa facebook for 40 days kaya i-lilink ko na lang to. (
In case some of you are still undecided on what to give up this Lent. Here's a chapter from sister Rissa Singson-Kawpeng's book Discover Your Inner Beauty Queen
FASTING AND FEASTING
New and practical ways of observing Lenten practices
When I was growing up, I dreaded the season of Lent. For one, it falls during summer when the temperature in Manila can soak up your shirt with perspiration faster than your laundrywoman can. Just thinking of having to attend those church services during Holy Week makes me want to sweat already.
Next, Lent for me was synonymous to fasting and abstinence.
Because my mom was a devout Catholic, she made sure we observed those Lenten practices.
Because a lot of fruits would be in season during summer, Mom would tell us to abstain from eating them as a sacrifice to the Lord. Even bananas, which I didn’t really like, would look appetizing to me on a day of fasting.
Things changed when I got renewed and I grew deeper in my relationship with the Lord.
I began to see fasting from God’s point of view instead of mine. I learned that it was not a way to bribe the Lord or force His hand to give me what I wanted. Instead, as one preacher put it, fasting moves me to a place where I can hear God better and receive more of His blessings. After all, He’s not the one who’s stuck!
From then on, Lent became a time of spiritual renewal for me — the way the Church intended it to be in the first place.
I began to enjoy fasting and abstained not only during the Fridays of Lent but all throughout the 40 days of the season. One Lent I fasted from desserts. Another time I abstained from eating all kinds of food except for vegetables and rice. One shopaholic friend stayed away from the malls. Another gave up watching TV and going to the movies.
But one particular Lent, my spiritual director told me not to fast or abstain from anything. He said it was useless for me to carry out my Lenten observance since I had greater spiritual issues in my life that I needed to deal with at that time.
At first, I felt so unholy for not keeping the Church’s mandated observance of the season. But I also knew that my spiritual director was right. What did it matter to the Lord if I gave up eating meat or my favorite dessert if my heart was at odds with Him and some other people?
Yes, there are different ways we can make fasting more meaningful. And they are practices that we shouldnt confinr solely to the season of Lent. American author and pastor William Arthur Ward gives us many ideas.
Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from apparent darkness; Feast on the reality of lig
Fast from thoughts of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; Feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; Feast on affirmatives.
Fast from pressure; Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; Feast on nonresistance.
Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; Feast on Eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; Feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; Feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; Feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; Feast on trust.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; Feast on sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. (Isaiah 58:6-7)
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