Fasting is easier as a virtue of omission than commission
It’s easier to give up meat than to take the meat of the Word
It’s easier to lament our sins than to confess them
It’s easier to quit wine and whining than to be a blessing
We can save a lot by fasting, including our own souls
But it’s much harder to spend ourselves for others
I don’t mean alms – giving alms is an omission of guilt –
I mean committing ourselves to an Institution.
We’re told we need to give up taking, and take up giving
But the only thing we need we can only receive
And the only thing we can do to get it is be there
And be taken up as offerer, offered and offering
We abstain from fleshy things to become one flesh
And from violent drink to be poured out on the cross
Let us also abstain from words to be the Gospel
And from being individuals to be Christ’s one body