Fasting for Lent

Fasting for Lent

 Fasting is the next part of making a change in ourselves for Lent. The first thing that comes to mind when we hear fasting is in regards to food. As a Catholic, I know we are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. That means one meal or two small meals. It is amazing to me how many people do not even try and do this. Yet, people will try the new fad diets without even blinking and eye at it. 

   When we fast we are to reflect on all the things that Jesus gave up willingly. It is offering up what we are fasting from. The act becomes both a physical sacrifice and a spiritual on as well. Where in this case we are removing ourselves from a want, a desire or a physical comfort. In tomorrows Blog I will explore other avenues that we all can take when it comes to fasting that will both involve and not involved food. There can be either a good fasting from both good and bad habits. Fasting can change us both physically and spiritually. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may we fast in this life to gain spiritual growth.

Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 346

Reading 1

JAS 5:13-20

Beloved:

Is anyone among you suffering?

He should pray.

Is anyone in good spirits?

He should sing a song of praise. 

Is anyone among you sick?

He should summon the presbyters of the Church,

and they should pray over him

and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

The prayer of faith will save the sick person,

and the Lord will raise him up.

If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another

and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

Elijah was a man like us;

yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain,

and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.

Then Elijah prayed again, and the sky gave rain

and the earth produced its fruit.

My brothers and sisters,

if anyone among you should stray from the truth

and someone bring him back,

he should know that whoever brings back a sinner

from the error of his way will save his soul from death 

and will cover a multitude of sins.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 141:1-2, 3 AND 8

R. (2a) Let my prayer come like incense before you.

O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;

hearken to my voice when I call upon you.

Let my prayer come like incense before you;

the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.

R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.

O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,

a guard at the door of my lips.

For toward you, O God, my LORD, my eyes are turned;

in you I take refuge; strip me not of life.

R. Let my prayer come like incense before you.

Gospel

MK 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,

but the disciples rebuked them.

When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,

“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,

for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Amen, I say to you,

whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child

will not enter it.”

Then he embraced the children and blessed them,

placing his hands on them.