Here we are at the first Friday of Lent. You know what that means - fish frys at churches and fish specials at every restaurant. While the parish fish fry is a sacred cultural tradition in the Pittsburgh area, we should take a fresh look at how we observe Fridays of abstinence.
In today's first reading from Isaiah we hear:
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
God is challenging us to DO something more when we abstain and fast. While it is tempting to order the seafood platter or a large fried fish sandwich with fries, mac 'n cheese, coleslaw, and dessert (My favorite fish fry dinner!), our Lord wants us to act on behalf of those in need. So what can that look like? On Fridays in Lent we can donate our excess to the poor, participate in the 40 Days for Life vigil, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or call an elderly neighbor. We can eat a meager meal and donate the money we would have spent to the poor. Perhaps we can include fasting in addition to abstinence in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are hungry. Let's truly try to make Fridays in Lent a day when we share in the suffering of Christ and in solidarity with our suffering world.
Song for Meditation