When to Feast, When to Fast

Reflection Date: February 20, 2026 Friday after Ash Wednesday
Daily Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15

Children of God:
Fasting is a familiar practice across many Asian cultures and religions. 

In Buddhism, monks and laypeople often fast as a way of discipline and detachment from material desires. 

Hinduism observes many forms of fasting, especially during festivals, as a means of purification and devotion to the gods. 

In Islam, the month of Ramadan is marked by strict fasting from dawn to sunset, seen as an act of obedience to Allah. 

Of course, Catholics also practice fasting, particularly during Lent and on special days, as a way of repentance and spiritual renewal. 

All these traditions share the idea that fasting helps control the body and focus the mind on the sacred. 

Yet they differ in their reasons and methods. Some fast to seek enlightenment, others to show devotion, and others to express sorrow for sins. 

In the gospel story of Matthew, the disciples of John the Baptist approached Jesus with a question. They wondered why his disciples did not fast as they and the Pharisees did. 

What are our inspirations for today?

First, fasting without meaning is just empty dieting.

Jesus explained that his disciples did not fast because the bridegroom was still with them (Matthew 9:15).

Meaning, religious practices have value only when they are connected to the right purpose. 

In every religion, there is a danger of reducing spiritual acts to mere external rituals. 

People can fast, pray, or give alms simply out of habit or social pressure. 

Jesus reminded his listeners that what matters is the reason behind the action. 

Practices must flow from a living relationship with God.

Today, we are invited to examine the intention behind our action. 

True fasting is not meant to impress others or prove something to ourselves. 

It is meant to draw our heart closer to God and to make space for what truly matters.

Second, timing gives fasting its true flavor.

Jesus said that there would be a proper time for his disciples to fast (Matthew 9:15). 

This means that spiritual practices must fit the season and situation of life. 

There is a time for celebration and a time for sacrifice. 

Fasting becomes meaningful when it responds to real spiritual needs. When a person is grieving, seeking guidance, or repenting, fasting becomes a powerful expression of the soul. 

But when it is forced at the wrong moment, it loses its spirit.

This teaching reminds us that Christian life is not a rigid set of rules but a living relationship. 

The presence of Jesus changes how we pray, celebrate, and sacrifice. 

Children of God:
Fasting is a beautiful tradition shared by many cultures, but Jesus gave it a new and deeper meaning. 

He taught that every spiritual practice must be rooted in love and relationship with him. 

Rules alone cannot transform the heart. What God desires is not empty stomachs but sincere souls. 

The challenge for us is to ask why we fast and what we hope to gain from it. 

May our Lenten practices, like fasting, lead us to deeper faith and genuine love.