We are now on our Lenten journey, and already I have encountered the claim that fasting is a thing of the past, that the point of Lent is to help the poor, serve our neighbor, etc. This comment came from an interesting source: John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, came to a press conference on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead.
Fasting Empties Us So That We May Be Filled More Abundantly
During Lent the Church asks us to perform penitential practices for 40 days so that we can fully embrace the joys of Easter. At the very least, we are asked to abstain from meat on Fridays and on Ash Wednesday, as well as to fast on two separate occasions (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday).
Topics: faith and reason, Michael Krom, fasting, abstinence, lent