Spiritual Practices: Fasting

This Fall the whole church will be walking together through a number of weeks introducing and describing Christian “spirituality,” or “Spiritual Practices.” We’re aiming to address questions like: “How do I grow?” and “How do I get close to God?” 

We’re continuing this week with fasting.

For centuries, even before Jesus and beyond the Christian tradition, fasting has been understood as (among other things) a way to gain clarity: the experience of hunger and our response to it is revealing about “where we are,” both immediately (like, in the moment of feeling hunger, how do you respond?) and big-picture (what does your response tell you about how things are going for you?). 

In so far as it is a discipline, it is also a way of allowing your body to lead you into concentration: it has the quality of helping you focus on what is directly in front of you.

This is one of the reasons why it is commended as a kind of preparatory practice, within and outside of the Christian tradition. For Christians, we fast before big events (Easter, baptisms, some folks every Sunday before the Eucharist) and as an act of penitence. 

In addition to being an aid to clarity, it has for us (not for Jesus) the ability to communicate physically what is true of us spiritually: there is an emptiness in us, and we need God to fill it with himself. 

Scripture to consider:

• Matthew 4:1-11

  
  

Questions for your kids

• I wonder: Why do you think Jesus fasted before he began his ministry?

• I wonder: Have you ever fasted? What was that like for you?

  
  

Peace,

Danny+