Homily for Saturday after
Ash Wednesday: Fr. Michael Udoekpo
Readings: Isa 58:
9b-14; Ps 86:1-6 and Luke 5:27-32
Fasting, fasting, fasting!
Today we celebrate Mass of the 1st Saturday after Ash Wednesday- the
day we all received ashes and entered upon a new liturgical season of lent- of
prayer, fasting and spiritual renewal. And the readings this morning fit the
spirit of the season.
In Luke’s Gospel today
(Luke 5:27-32), the Pharisees and the Scribes are very upset that Jesus “kept
bad company” with the Levi and the tax- collectors, whom they regarded as
sinners, terrible people, a distinct group and an outcast of the society.
It poses a pastoral challenge
for Jesus in his Galilean ministry. He has to prove to the Pharisees that he has
done nothing wrong by reaching out to everyone with joy, in a joyful setting,
even during meals. Jesus argues from the perspective of a physician who mostly
attain to those who are sick and diseased, and are in need of healing medicine.
Jesus seems to be saying to the Pharisees and the scribes, ‘think of my
ministry in the same way as that of a physician, “I have not come to call not
the righteous but sinners.”
It is true that in
ancient days fasting was a kind ritual mourning. It was associated with bereavement,
repentance and prayer especially during national crisis. Isaiah fasted and walk
around Palestine naked on behalf of Israel. Habakkuk stood on the watch for a
long time complaining to God. He withdrew to loneliness in demand for an answer
from God. It really upsets the Pharisees that the sinners in the gospel instead
of mourning and fasting were rather joyfully celebrating with Jesus. The more
reason in the following verse 33 they follow up with a question, “why is it that the disciples of John fast and pray
but yours only eat and drink.
It is all about abuse
of Lent, prayer and fasting that is not in touch with reality. This shows up
also in that first reading, Trito Isaiah, which is about life in the new world
after the Israel. This post exilic community continued with the tradition of
fasting and prayers. Sometimes the community would gathered in solemn
procession as we deed on Ash Wednesday, even as we doing it now. This was good
in itself, but it also created an impression of piety which was often far
removed from the real state of affairs in the community. It imposed a
uniformity of observance which disguised the difference between those who were
genuinely fasting and those who wee pretending. It generated into self-righteousness,
something we too must guard against during this Lenten season.. Religion and
fasting that lacks integrity, hope, faith and charity is empty. According
prophet Isaiah, the fasting, or prayer that pleases God is that which removes from
our communities acts of oppression, selfishness, false accusation, malicious
speeches and self-seeking. For Isaiah, whom I agree with, those who fast, must
reach out joyfully, realistically and concretely to everyone, especially the
poor and the afflicted.
We must sincerely and joyfully
eat with them like Jesus. We are call to share the gospel joyfully with
everyone. Lent is true time for the gospel joy. It is a favorable time for a
change of heart. It is a time for renewal, a time for rebuilding, a time for
restoring, and a time for repairing our spiritual houses. It is a time for
repentance. As we have seen from our
Lord this morning, repentance does not necessarily consist in mourning and
empty fasting or selecting who we talk to or relate with, or dine with, especially
in the same community. Rather, our lives are turned around through a joyful
discovery of a new opportunity to follow Christ, reconcile with God and with
our neighbors, reach out, and to be charity to one another, while at the same
time remaining open in obedience and humility to be nourished by the word of
God.
