Do we miss the point of fasting?

Workers at a bakery prepare fasting bread for Catholics who wanted to participate in Pope Francis call for prayer and fasting for peace in Syria in September. (Photo: Dave Vogrinc, Catholic News Herald/CNS)

But understanding the concept of fasting as a way of solidarity and penitence is a very ancient practice which has continued for many centuries and been very meaningful to many.

Personally through the years I have treated the actual fasting as part of Lent rather lightly. Sacrifice yes, I have promoted that through our annual MARFAM Lenten programmes as acts of love and sacrifice, which might have included giving up cold drinks, sweets or chocolates, visiting granny or a lonely person, or not being cheeky to your parents for a day. But fasting?

When Pope Francis called on the Church to fast and pray for peace on September 7, it resonated with me. But then, how could all the bishops and those thousands gathered for the ordination of the new bishop of Polokwane, Jeremiah Masela, who were expecting to be fed and for whom plans were already well advanced with regard to food?

If we believe in the efficacy of such a day of prayer and fasting, could we maybe have transferred the fasting to the next day?

I shared my question with the members of my Renew group, as well as with some others. One said that in the past the money saved would be given to the poor. Thats admirable, and concern for the poor is part of the reason for fasting.

Some mention was made of sacrifices, but no one brought up the point of penance, penance maybe for a social sin of violence, in any form. We didnt talk about solidarity with those who are suffering.

Fasting has a spiritual component, but it should not be to manipulate God, a point that can also be applied to any form of prayer. The idea bothers me that if you pray for something and your prayer appears not to be answered then you didnt pray hard enough.

On the Internet I found a table about fasting and religion, the hows and whys.

The Bahai fast to focus on the love of God and on spiritual matters. Buddhists and Hindus fast as a method of purification or to focus during meditation. Jews fast as atonement for sin and in petition. Muslims fast very religiously according to the teachings of their faith. Some Christians would fast in solidarity with the poor and we Catholics, in theory, fast as a form of penance and communion with Jesus in his suffering.

In practice, however, there may be mixed motives. Our Lenten fast may be combined with the diet we havent got around to following, or a ritual, a practice that we have always kept going back to our grandparents days. The fast before receiving Communion, reduced to an hour now, appears also to have lost much of its meaning and the purpose of respect for the Eucharist.

Discuss with the family your understanding of a fast and its efficaciousness, together with prayer, for changing the world. This might result in an action plan for the month of October and the theme of the Mission of the Family.

This mission includes building up society as well as sharing in the life and mission of the Church.

The months of 2013 as the Year of Faith with the family reflections have hopefully brought some food for thought and discussion into our families through the constant reference to the Catechism and Church documents.

But faith must be linked with life. If your fast does not bring you closer to God, make you repentant of personal or social sin, save money for the poor, and feel in solidarity with them, then maybe youve missed the point that Pope Francis was making.

Maybe there is more to fasting than meets the eye or deprives the stomach.