Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 50; Matthew 9:14-15
'Why have we fasted, if you do not see, why mortify ourselves if you never notice? Look, you seek your own pleasures on your fastdays' (Isaiah 58:3).The subject in Isaiah 58 is fasting. The text tells us that the people wanted to know the ways of God. Indeed, it says, they sought him day and night. This being the case then, we must say that the people's desire was commendable.
But this is what is sad about this story. They wanted to get closer to God but they were going about it all the wrong way. This is what has impressed itself on my mind. One may be in desperate need of God, and one may do what seems to be the accepted thing to do, in this case fasting, and it can all be in vain. Let this not be us. Let us not fast in the way that pleases us, but in the way that pleases God. The kind of fast that pleases God is 'to break unjust fetters, to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the one you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin' (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Brilliant
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to have the
Sermon posted a day in advance. Is this possible?
Because there is a group of people involved it is better for us to post it late on the evening before or early on the day itself. Of course when the day begins and ends will vary depending on what part of the world you are in - for us it is UK time.
ReplyDeleteIs there a standard way of fasting accepted by the church in general. I have come across different people telling me different things and I am a bit confused. I am a Catholic but there are things that I still need to learn and this is one of them. Can you please bring some light into this subject. I am refering to the not eating stile. Thanks very much
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