Fasting or feasting

Matthew 9 : 14 - 15

Jesus is questioned about fasting and in fact criticized about his 'gluttony' by those who may have been envious of the way he attracted followers through table fellowship. A good question too for most of us especially when feasting is a more acceptable sign of God's blessing than fasting is. We associate fasting as something for the ascetics or when we need to really 'pray hard' for something.

But both fasting and feasting have their apporpriate place in our normal lives. Being the lunar new year, the Chinese will have our fair share of feasting for a few more of the fifteen days of the celebration. There are mini-feasts in between before the last day, the fifteenth. Yes, indeed there are times we should feast and celebrate with family and friends. Today, I was in Malacca in the home of my aunt (mother's dear sister) and my cousins' families who are back from Singapore. There was much feasting as we each contributed a dish or two for the meal. However, I believe that much more important than the elaborate food was the gift of time and presence to the people we love.

Fasting has its place too during Lent. This is not the fast of those who are involuntarily deprived of food and whose hunger should be alleviated. It is a practice for those of us who already have 'excesses' in our lives. Fasting can be practiced creatively, as we look for ways to master our desires and inclinations. For some, food is not a big deal, and so for the practice of fasting to be effective they may choose to fast from some other favorite thing for example movies, idle chat, reading.......Fasting shows us our weaknesses and underlines the spiritual battle that goes on in us and around us. It will also help us to be mindful of those who are unjustly deprived and to offer a helpful hand.

There is a time to fast and a time to feast. In fact, only when we learn to fast are we able to feast and enjoy God's blessings appropriately and with moderation. And our times of feasting and enjoyment make it all the more important that abstinence has a place in our lives.