http://www.presentationministries.com/bibleinst
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Jonah 3:1-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19, Luke 11:29-32
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031611.shtml
THE LENTEN FAST
"They shall not eat." -Jonah 3:7
During Lent, the Lord calls us to imitate Him when He fasted forty days in the desert (Mt 4:2). Fasting is limiting our intake of food and/or drink. A diabetic, an elderly person, or an expectant mother can fast by just skipping dessert or not eating between meals. Fasting is not a matter of quantity but of obedience to the Lord.
Nevertheless, the Lord often calls His people to fast extensively. For example, the king of the Ninevites proclaimed to his people a fast in which nothing was eaten or drunk for presumably a short time (Jon 3:7). Esther and the Jews of the city of Susa were called to eat and drink nothing for three days (Est 4:16). The soldiers of Judas Maccabeus fasted to the degree that they felt too weak to fight (1 Mc 3:17). Paul mentioned his "frequent fastings" (2 Cor 11:27), and Jesus began His public ministry by fasting for forty days and nights.
For most Christians, Lent is the kind of fast in which we substantially limit our intake of food. What the Church has taught for centuries - only one full meal for each of the forty days of Lent - is probably still God's will for most Christians. Make this your way of fasting during Lent unless the Lord has specifically given you other directions on fasting.
Prayer: Father, use my fasting to drive out demons (Mt 17:21, NAB).
Promise: "For at the preaching of Jonah they reformed, but you have a greater than Jonah here." -Lk 11:32
Praise: Rob fasts weekly for his wife's welfare. Their marriage is stronger than ever.
(For a related teaching, order our tape on "The Secret of Fasting" on audio AV 46-1 or video V-46.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July27, 2010
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2011 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment