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had ascended the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan, In a departure from our review of Good Eats available in area establishments, this month, we thought we'd take a look instead at the practice of fasting -- one of the more common religious practices in many traditions, and especially in the forefront during the Christian observance of Lent. ... The Practice of Fasting ... Ok. Maybe fasting isn't the most inviting topic for Good Eats. But it does raise some of the more interesting and fundamental questions about our relationship to food. ... So ... What fasting means can vary from one religion to the next. For example, in Catholic practice, at least today, fasting consists of refraining from any food or drink except for one modest meal, though the time the meal is taken may vary. ... In other traditions, fasting means nothing at all should pass the lips for a full day, as during the observance of the Jewish Yom Kippur, when Jews fast from the late afternoon meal before sundown until the stars are visible the next evening -- a little more than 24 hours. ... There is also a question of the duration of the fast. Sometimes fasting can mean a considerably longer period, as in the Islamic Fast of Ramadan, when Muslims must fast during daylight hours for each day of the month-long observance. ... According to the Q'ran:
But what is the essential idea behind fasting? ... The Purpose of Fasting ... Depending upon the tradition, the idea of fasting may vary. Among some Islamic sects, at least part of the idea is to develop a feeling of compassion for the poor & hungry of the world. And Among Jews and Christians, as well as Muslims, at least part of the idea of fasting is commemorative, in that it recalls the fasts of Moses, or Jesus' fast in the wilderness, or the Holy Month when the Q'ran was given to Muhammad. ... But even in more so-called primitive cultures, fasting is not uncommon. And, seemingly across all the boundaries, one essential idea behind fasting is purification. ... In the tradition of Islam, Ramadan is a time for concentrating less on worldly concerns and more on one's faith and the practice of it. In this light, fasting {siyam} -- which is one of the Five Pillars of Faith -- becomes a central observance. In addition to the daily fast, Muslims also engage in additional and often lengthy prayer each day. Moreover, while certain acts are always outside of religious practice, they become especially offensive if engaged in during the Fast of Ramadan. These include lying, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, making a false oath, greed, or covetousness. In this light, one can begin to see that fasting is not an end in itself, but rather an integral part of religious observance that is intended to bring the devout practitioner closer to God. This can also be seen in the Jewish tradition, where the fast comes after a week spent in self-examination and repentance -- from the celebration of the New Year on Rosh Hashanah -- and is inaugurated by the singing of the Kol Nidre, which asks for Gods forgiveness. And something of the idea of fasting is probably also contained in the following passage from one of the twelve minor prophets, Joel:
In the Western Rite of the Catholic tradition, Ash Wednesday -- a day of fasting -- marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. {The intervening Sundays are not counted.} During the service, the community approaches the altar to be marked with ashes on their foreheads. ... Here, too, the idea of fasting goes beyond food to something considerably larger. ... At the Sermon on the Mount, after Jesus has instructed those gathered with the Lord's Prayer, and then spoke of the fundamental requirement of forgiveness, according to Matthew's account, he goes on to say:
The Fruits of Fasting ... It is certainly possible to fast for other reasons than the ones cited here. There are many, in fact, who hold out the health benefits of fasting. But that is something that would be more appropriately discussed in our Health & Medicine section, not here. Of course, it could be equally well argued that this piece belongs in our Religion & Spirit section, and not here, in something called Good Eats. But once in a while, it can't hurt to look a little more closely at our relationship to food. But not in the all-too-usual and obsessive ways many of us have ... counting calories ... watching cholesterol ... worrying about weight gain. Instead ... and maybe with a little prayer and fasting of our own ... we can learn something from these various traditions about the value and role of food in our lives, or the lack of it, in our own lives or in the lives of others. And maybe, just maybe, in the process, we may learn a thing or two about ourselves, as well. ... *Note:
Biblical texts are taken from the following translations: lmc
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