Note that the regular devotions were not sent today due to the U.S. Thanksgiving Day. This devotion is from June of 2000.
Text: Matthew 6:16-18
And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil onyour head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
This is the last comment from Matthew's gospel that is about the three disciplines of religious piety mentioned last week: Fasting. It is probably the least practiced of the three (almsgiving, prayer, fasting). Today, fasting has more of a connection to dieting than it does to an exercise that helps us focus on our relationship with God and our place in the world as God's children. The cover of this week's Newsweek reads, Fat for Life written across the waist of a "typical" US youth. The discipline of fasting cannot help that boy or any of us with our weight. It can be for us a focus...a way to make an intentional prayer-like move within our everyday order that would help us prayerfully think about what it means to be God's beloved. Fasting takes us out of our usual pattern of life. Therefore, we will be jarred enough by the change to our daily order that we have the opportunity to intentionally consider our status as connected to God. The note in today's lesson has to do with how we fast. Fasting is a personal discipline - no need for anyone to hear or see that we are involved in fasting. Another note. We can fast even as we restrict our diet. For example, when I was at Holden Village, we had a weekly potato day. That was dinner. The village then took the money that it would have spent to prepare a regular meal and we sent it to something like the ELCA Hunger Appeal. So as a community even our eating was a prayerful fast of sorts. It also allowed those who cannot go without food to fast in a particular manner.
Connection: Households can fast in a variety of ways. If you do choose to fast, do something with your regular eating time that allows you freedom to do something you would not usually let yourself do...walk, write a letter, give someone a call who would really enjoy hearing from someone. Maybe a good way to break a fast is to invite someone over for dinner - they don't need to know you were fasting...you will know...and so will your Father in secret.
Gracious God, keep us focused on the wealth of life within your Reign. Keep us steadfast in journey within your loving embrace. Amen
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