Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15
When the concept of compartmentalisation is applied to the organisation of structures right down to medication boxes, it makes a lot of sense.
Not only is it logical, it may even be necessary to get processes in place and running and to achieve results.
But when the concept of compartmentalisation is applied to the spiritual life, then things begin to get mixed up and religious practices begin to look rather superstitious.
The two readings of today talk about fasting. But in the 1st reading, the people were asking why should they keep fasting if the Lord never sees it, and why do penance if the Lord does not notice it.
And through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord retorted: Look, you do business on your fastdays, you oppress all your workmen; look, you quarrel and squabble when you fast and strike the poor man with your fist.
And the Lord continued with this: Fasting like your today will never make your voice heard on high. Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men?
When fasting is compartmentalised as a stand-alone act, without any connection to the other areas of life and faith, then it would look odd and even rather nonsensical.
So fasting must go together with prayer and almsgiving, and with that repentance and conversion and a turning back to God and walking in His ways.
Then the season of Lent will bring about a humble and contrite heart, and when we call upon the Lord, He will answer, "I am here."