Iâm not against not eating meat. Iâm against associating diet and religion.
Col 2:20-22
âWherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?â
âColossians 2: [20] If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world? [21] Touch not, taste not, handle not: [22] Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men. [23] Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.â
In this chapter, Paul is referring to the practices of the
Old Law that many of the Jewish converts thought they still had to observe, and some tried to tell them that it was a sin not to follow it. Paul was telling them that those practices were no longer valid for them as Christians because the Old Law had been
fulfilled by Jesus Christ. So, they were to live under the Law of Christ, now. Jesus never said there were no more laws to follow. He said we should follow Him in âthe wayâ that He had taught to the Apostles.
âActs 2: [2] And as they were ministering to the Lord,
and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. [3] Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away. [4] So they being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Seleucia: and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.â
They were clearly fasting along with their prayers. Why?
âMatthew 6: [16]
And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. [17] But thou,
when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;[18] That thou appear not to men to fast , but to thy Father who is in secret:
and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.â
Jesus told them to be happy and joyous when they fasted, and not try to make it look as though they were suffering some kind of terrible hardship, because thatâs what the hypocrites did. He didnât tell them to never fast.
âMark 2: [19] And Jesus saith to them: Can the children of the marriage fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. [20] But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and
then they shall fast in those days.â
Jesus clearly says that after Heâs gone, they will fast. But, while He was still with them, they didnât have to observe the Jewish laws of fasting.
Catholics use fasting as a spiritual tool, very much like prayer. Itâs a small sacrifice that anyone can do to bring them closer to God. We donât do it so we can brag about it. Itâs not that big of a deal, but itâs very effective for spiritual growth. The observance of Lent is to spiritually prepare ourselves for the Passion of Christ, just like He prepared Himself by going into the desert to fast for 40 days before He faced His own Passion. During Lent we tend to spend a lot of time thinking about what that means to us, personally, and to the whole world.
Easter is one of the most important events of the year that the Catholic Church (and all of Christianity) celebrates, the second one being Christmas. We donât consider making a small sacrifice, like fasting one day a week for a few weeks, as too much to do for Jesus, after He suffered so much for us. Do you?
** I see that while I was distracted during the writing of my post, others have already responded. Just wanted to acknowledge their efforts. Thanks, all.
