Repentance: The Essence of Fast

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 1st Week of Lent, February 24th, 2021
Texts: Jonah 3:1-10; Ps. 51:3-4.12-13.18-19; Luke 11:29-32
Fasting characterizes the season of Lent and as such some of the readings dwell on the nature of fasting and its function in the life of Christians. The readings guide us on how to go about our fast so as to make the holy Lent bear fruits in our lives. Today's first reading makes us to understand the nature and  function of fasting in human life, and by so doing guiding us on what kind of fast is required in the season of Lent. It relates to us that fasting averts the wrath of God. It also shows that the kind of fast that wins God's favour is the kind that comes with repentance, the change of one's ways. Hence, the nature of fasting pleasing to God is that which is motivated by repentance, the change of heart. The change of heart manifests in change of ways. Repentance is the essence of fast, for it is repentance that motivates the self-denial of food or whatever. It is the repentance that is pleasing to God, not the self-denial of food. Self-denial of food without repentance is in vain and unproductive. When we repent and believe in the gospel, our self-denial of food or whatever unites us with the passion of Christ and so wins us salvation. It is said, "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it." We are called during this Lent to change our evil ways, to repent and believe in the gospel, so as to gain God's mercy and favour.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus talks about His death and resurrection in saying that He will give us the sign of Jonah. As Jonah spent three days in the belly of fish so also Jesus Christ spent three days in the heart of the earth, and then resurrected on the third day. As a sign, it means that by His death and resurrection we are called to faith in Him, for His death and resurrection are sign that He is truly the Christ, the Saviour of the world. His  death and resurrection are manifestation of God's power and glory in Him and as such the sign of God's presence in Him. Our self-denial unites us with the death of Jesus Christ and by so doing participate in His resurrection on Easter day. Jesus Christ goes further to say that not to repent and have faith in Him is a failure on our part. He says, "The queen of the South will arise at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Our generation will have no means of escape at the judgment day if we fail to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, for we stand at better advantage than the people before us who repent and believe in God at the words of men. In the days of old God spoke through men, but in our own time and generation He speaks to us through His Son; in our own time and generation the Word Himself came down to meet us, no longer through any intermediary. Hence, we receive God's word directly and undiluted.

Lord our God, we thank you for your mercy; we beg you to inspire in us genuine fast that we may obtain your mercy and favour. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke