Homily 27 February 2005 By Fr. Hathaway FSSP Mater Dei Latin Mass Community
Third Sunday of Lent
On Another Consideration on Abstinance and Fasting
The Preface for Lent mentions benefits to bodily fasting…
“vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia…” curbs
vices,
elevates the mind, grants strength and reward.
There is another good to be obtained by practicing the
Church’s precept regarding abstinence and fasting on days appointed.<>
First, recall the Christian practices mortifications to
advance in divine love.Some hope by
their fast to look nice in a swimsuit; we should fast to become more
pleasing
to God.
Becoming more pleasing to God is the same as growing in His
friendship… wherein we give ourselves more and more to Him so that He
may give
Himself more and more to us.Friendship
is the mutual exchange of gifts.“Without sharing,” says St. Thomas Aquinas, “there can be no
friendship.”And so, the blessed
Savior
told His apostles, “I have called you friends because I have made known
to you
what I have heard from My Father.”Christ
called them His friends because he shared with them heavenly goods.
Now when we faithfully submit ourselves to the Church and
obey her laws of fasting and abstinence (as much as any precept e.g.,
marriage,
support of the Church, Mass attendance on Sunday’s and Holy Days of the
year,
etc.) we, in effect, give our will to the Church and in that gift we
provide evidence
that we wish to belong entirely to Christ and we wish Him to belong
entirely to
us… by keeping such laws we show Christ that we truly want His
friendship.
Not a few Catholics will confess to having eaten meat on Fridays
in Lent… not just once… but repeatedly.This is shocking… for it shows little love for Christ… little
zeal to be
obedient to His Bride the Church… little desire to advance in His love.
Now someone may say, “But, Father, I only eat meat on Fridays
because I forget… not because I do not love Christ or His Church.”
To such a one I respond, “No, you eat meat again and again
on Fridays of Lent - and neglect to do penance on other Friday’s of the
year -
because you have so little love for the crucified Savior.Have you forgotten that we practice
abstinence on Friday’s of Lent - and do some form of penance throughout
the
other Friday’s of the year - to commemorate the passion and death of
the Savior
who died on a Friday?If you loved
Christ, if you thought more about what He suffered for you, then you
would
remember to suffer something for Him.Friends
want to exchange gifts.Where is your
suffering?True,
it is no big sacrifice to go without
meat one day a week but love is not so much in the gift as the giving.My dear friend, if this divine Lover meant
more to you, you would love Him as He has loved you and offer this
token
sacrifice.”
Let us remember these few words and apply them.Let us ask Christ for the grace to love Him
more.Let us look at fasting as an
opportunity
to show that we love Him and His Church.And by thinking of Him more, by looking to serve Him more, may
we remember
to fast and abstain on days appointed by the Church not because we have
to but
because we want to.