Lent Day 3, Friday, Feb 19, 2021

“Why Friday?”

Yeah, that’s right, it’s the first Friday in Lent.  If you’ve been around the block a time or two, you already realize that “Fish Fridays” are back, referring to the practice of restaurants, school cafeterias, and local dives highlighting their fish-based menu items for the next six weeks.  This tradition is more ingrained than serving turkey at Thanksgiving, yet we rarely give a second thought to the question, “Why do we abstain from meat on Fridays?”

We know that the tradition began in the Christian Church over a thousand years ago, although the exact origin is difficult to pinpoint.  However, once the practice surfaced, it was easy for the Church to formally adopt it as a helpful and important means of spiritual growth.  Why?  Since Jesus was crucified on a Friday, lots of folks decided that they could honor God by not shedding blood (via the consumption of meat) on Fridays.  Other folks thought that refraining from meat-related proteins (including dairy items) would slightly weaken the body, honoring Jesus’ fasting in the desert for forty days.

I had to dig deep a few years ago to find the above references, but I’m really just telling you because I’m a big fan of fasting from certain food and drinks.  I have personally practiced some form of fasting for many years.  The first few times it was difficult, but after a while, the body adjusts.  It’s truly amazing how my body has accepted these changes, both during Lent and the rest of the year.

Still not convinced that “No Meat” Friday and other means of fasting are helpful?  That’s okay.  I’m not trying to convince you.  However, I do want to share with you that this has been an invaluable part of my own spiritual growth and, I pray, it might become significant for you, too.

One day, when I meet God in person, I’m going to ask Him if all my fasting made a difference.  If God says that it really didn’t help, I’m gonna’ be plenty upset.  (If I get there before you, I’ll try to send you a message so that you don’t have to keep doing it.)  But until then, I’ll keep skipping a few of my favorites for twenty-four hours.  It’s an easy way to thank God for putting up with me all these years.

No meat today!  (24-hours!)

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ “ (Luke 4:1-4, NRSV).