It is the beginning of Lent.  I was reminded of this when I had lunch with a very close friend, a truly humble and joyful follower of Jesus, a few days ago. When ordering, he said he was not eating meat. He was taking seriously the hallowed tradition of doing some kind of fast during the 40 days of Lent. I said not a word but ordered meatless as he did.

Fasting was a big thing in the Old Testament.  According to Isaiah one reason was to get God’s attention, probably because it is highly unusual to stop eating. So the hope is that God will be startled by our behavior.  Isaiah thought about that.  He wrote, ’Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it?  Why have we humbled our-selves, and you have not noticed?’  God’s answer is devastating. Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Isaiah 58:3

The Jews were determined to get God’s attention.  They changed their nice clothing for the coarsest sack cloth and lay down, covering themselves with ashes. Now, that should get God’s attention, they thought. God paid no attention at all to their fasting but saw their ungodly behavior that changed not one bit as they fasted.

Hear the Word of God.  “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

 If we do that, Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.  If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  Isaiah 58:9, 10

Fasting serves to remind us of this fast of God, to no longer oppress the needy but help them.  Teach me what this means to me this morning.