Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:16-21

The Old Testament reading this evening from the prophet Joel began by saying,

Yet even now, declares the LORD,

                        return to me with all your heart,

             with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.

The prophet Joel is pleading for the people of Israel to repent and return to the Lord. He warns that if they continue to conduct themselves in ways against God’s will, there will be armies of locust that will come upon the unrepentant people, destroying everything in their path.

A sign or practice that the prophet Joel prescribes for Israel’s repentance in the text is fasting.

Repentance and fasting have long been associated with one another.

King David fasted, wept, and mourned not only the brief life of his son but also the sins of adultery and murder that led to the boy’s death.

Upon hearing the call to repentance through the prophet Jonah, the people of Nineveh fasted, repented, and turned from their evil ways.

In accomplishing what Israel could not do during the Exodus as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years, Jesus was led into the wilderness for forty days, fasting. 

In fact, tonight’s Gospel, Jesus says, “And when you fast…”

So why do Lutherans struggle so much with the concept of fasting?

Because it’s considered “Roman Catholic.”

Have you ever noticed how sometimes people oppose something just because another group believes in it?

How contrarian!

However, as explained above, this perspective rejects the Lutheran understanding of “Sola Scriptura” – Scripture alone. 

Sola Scriptura states that Scripture alone speaks and guides the Christian faith, and the teachings of the church must align with it. 

Now, for this reason, Scripture never explicitly demands fasting, but from the examples just mentioned, you can see not only how the practice went hand in hand with repentance but was also highly expected.

Even Martin Luther (1483­–1546) promoted the practice of fasting for two reasons, he wrote: “Of fasting I say this: it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching, for praying, for studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God’s Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work.”

Isn’t this something? Christian fasting is meant to grow our hunger for God’s Word and forgiveness. It’s not intended to earn forgiveness as good works, which is why we are not like Roman Catholics or many evangelicals, for that matter; we cannot earn salvation this way. 

But we can learn through practice where our life needs changing, where repentance is necessary, and where our faith is struggling. 

Think about this: if the doctor told you that you had cancer and needed to fast for twenty-four hours for a blood test to get the right medicine, you’d do it in a heartbeat. 

You’d do it because you can’t imagine not talking to your father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or friend ever again. 

Here’s the thing: if we don’t examine ourselves, recognize which sins are not only running through our veins but also controlling us, and learn to confess them, then we can’t be sure we’ll have a tomorrow in heaven with the people we care about so deeply.

We need to understand which sins control us and require confessing to receive forgiveness.

Alright, so what does it mean to fast?

Contrary to popular belief, fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food and drink; it’s about reducing or going without. Therefore, fasting can include anything that controls you.

So, what is controlling your life and hindering your faith and the vocations God has entrusted to you?

Is your phone glued to your hand while your children or grandchildren play on the floor in front of you, begging for your attention? Begging you to read a book to them?

Do you happily stop for breakfast every morning on your way to work, but have no money to give to the church to care for the hungry and needy?

When was the last time you went out of your way to visit a shut-in brother or sister from the church?

When we fast and reduce the things that control us and hinder our faith, the relationships we have, and the vocations God has given us, we not only realize how little of these things are truly necessary, but also recognize how much God already provides. 

The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to fast, not only from food and drink, but the things that have become gods and idols in our lives.

Do you find it hard to put your phone down? Start today by placing it in another room of your house in the evenings, spend quality time with your family, work on a puzzle, enjoy a meal around the dinner table, read the Bible, and pray together.

Could you cut back on eating out or stopping for breakfast every day? Could the money you save be donated to the church’s missions or a cause that supports the gospel?

Or could you set a goal to call or visit one friend or family member each week this Lent? Especially the lonely, those going through struggles, and those who need your support.

You see, when you practice fasting correctly, it creates time for prayer and meditation on God’s Word. It provides a way for you to give and support the work of the Gospel financially, and it encourages you to do good works, caring for your neighbor.

Why wouldn’t you want to do any of these things?

This Lenten season, don’t be a contrarian, don’t be opposed to Scripture just because other churches or people observe the same traditions, but instead be Scriptural, be a Christian.

And in fasting, if you struggle to let go of the things that you learn have control over your life, then glory be to Jesus, because you now know the sins you need to repent of, you know what is leading you away from being with your brother and sister in Christ, and when you confess these sins, you have the assurance and word of God, that He forgives you.

In fact, He wants to forgive you because He desires for you, your brother, your sister, and the person to your left and to your right to be with Him in eternity. +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI