Fast Day 13: Inner Change

John the Baptist was identified as the first prophet in 400 years and he dressed the part! He wore camel hair sackcloth, a coarse and loosely woven garment, which represented a special prophetic call for personal and national repentance. But His message and his demeanor were one of humility. He was there to proclaim someone greater was coming! Jesus was coming!

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Change your ways, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The prophet Isaiah spoke of him, “He is the voice calling from the wilderness for all to prepare the way of the LORD.” John himself had a garment of camel’s hair, a leather belt and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3: 1-4

Fasting, while wearing sackcloth and ashes, throughout the ages symbolized repentance, mourning, submission and self-humiliation. In Isaiah 58, God tells us that He is done with this public demonstration of repentance and humility that does not truly indicate an internal submission to Him.

The way God wants us to show our true repentance is not by fasting as a ritual but by our lasting response to Him. Isaiah 58 goes on to say: Champion freedom. Root out oppression. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Cover the naked. Help your family.

Change is work! Because we must do the inner work first. We receive the forgiveness of God and agree with Him that we are wrong. We repent and turn away from facing our own selfish needs and our inadequate power and resources. We turn around to face Him, the Lord of the Universe, and the very power of God is now in our hands.

Our response, in gratitude, is to allow Him to change us, on the inside. And on the outside, using our hands to serve Him. And to serve the people He puts in our path that are needy.

Fasting and wearing sackcloth was a public demonstration for a special reason. But Jesus reminds us that God wants us to do good, give, pray and fast in secret (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18), not to try to be noticed or praised or seen by people. Our reward is with Him!

When is the last time you “wore sackcloth” in public instead of responding in secret?

How did showing off that coarse fabric really feel?

How does giving in secret feel?

What inner change are you starting to see from your private time of fasting and prayer?

Lord, make it clear to me that the fruit of my fasting and repentance is not penance, but a freer response to the love You show me. Amen.