Fasting and Feasting

Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP submitted the following reflection which was delivered at a Prayer Service for M & M Insurance Broking Services Limited on Tuesday, March 3.

Fasting and Feasting! It seems strange to put these two words together when they appear to be poles apart.

‘Fasting’ includes self-denial, detachment and sacrifice, a time of intense prayer, self-discipline, and spiritual renewal. ‘Feasting’ is the opposite to ‘fasting’.  To feast is to celebrate and enjoy oneself. When you celebrate a birthday, you don’t fast, you feast.

There is clearly a purpose in fasting which includes religious and spiritual values as well as health benefits and character building. Fasting, however, is not an end in itself nor is it meant to benefit only those who fast.

The Old Testament prophets connected fasting with justice and works of mercy: “Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me” says the Lord “to share your bread with the hungry,  to shelter the homeless poor; to break unjust fetters and let the oppressed go free” (cf Isa 58:6–7).

So, there is another dimension to fasting: mercy and charity; helping the poor and needy and acting justly. The poor should benefit from our fasting. In our throwaway societies, there is a lot of waste and pollution of our environment. Fasting should help us to be more appreciative of our blessings; more caring of our environment and more aware of the way we waste water, food, electricity, and other resources while millions of people are hungry and lack basic amenities.

When we fast, we realise that not everything we want we really need. It can train us to choose lifestyles that are more sober, simpler, and moderate.

If you research the three major religions in our country, you would notice that for all of them fasting has an important place.

Islam has its time for fasting, 30 days of Ramadan which began on February 17 this year. For Muslims, this is a holy month, and fasting is one of the five pillars of the faith of Islam.

Hindus also have times for fasting connected with their deities. Fasting in Hinduism is a way of aligning the body with the mind and spirit, moving away from worldly pleasures to focus on spiritual growth.

Catholic Christians and some other Christian denominations celebrate Lent as a sacred time comprising 40 days in preparation for Easter. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are closely connected in the Lenten exercises.

Fasting that includes self-denial, self-sacrifice, inner purification and caring for others is a radical option and choice for swimming against the tide in a world that is self-absorbed and strives on instant gratification.

United in prayer

Do you realise the powerhouse for doing good, transforming attitudes and behaviour that exists in the different religions of the world and right here in our own country?

Could you imagine the impact we could have if we were more united in our prayer and fast for peace, justice, equality, and the transformation of our world into a better place for everyone to live in?

If in all our religions we were to have one day of fast from selfishness, we would discover the power of mercy for healing our world.

When we add charity and support for the poor and needy, no one would be in want. We have the secret in our hands, but we are keeping it to ourselves. We need to take our gifts out of storage and put them at the service of others. Together, we could show the world a better way by walking the walk and talking the talk.

Often, we bemoan the great disparities of global wealth and the fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. With less than 3 per cent of the world’s adult population owning over 45 per cent of the world’s wealth, poverty will always be a scandal, and governments alone will always be challenged in alleviating poverty from the face of the earth.

There is too much craving for power, corruption, and manipulation in global politics.

There is only one thing that can change and transform the world and that is love—the Good Samaritan love that can break through barriers, boundaries, ethnicity, religion, social status; love that can embrace every woman and man as a sister and brother and love them with a love that is altruistic and self-emptying.

If every Muslim, every Hindu, every Christian, every Jew, every Buddhist and people of every religion of the world whose faith is rooted in love—a love of God and a love of neighbour—were to love, care and share out of their means and blessings with one poor person in the world such tangible love would transform the world radically.

This is the fast that would feast the poor. It is also the fast that pleases the God we worship.

I would like to tell all my Muslim brothers and sisters during Ramadan and all my sisters and brothers during Lent this message: don’t fast just for your own well-being and welfare. Fast to feast the poor. Fast for justice and to build peace, brotherhood, and a world of greater caring and sharing.

I would like to tell all my sisters and brothers in Trinidad and Tobago and all over the world this message. Our Calypso Monarch for 2026, Terri Lyons, has given us the word: “Trinidad needs a message. Tobago needs a message. Trinbago needs a message” and I add CARICOM needs a message, America needs a message, Russia needs a message.

The time is now. We all need a message to empower us to be more generous, selfless, caring, and compassionate; to build nations of peace and non-violence and a world of greater equality, peace and harmony without oppression, corruption, greed, and selfishness.

If all our religions were to collaborate and join in prayer, fasting and works of mercy, we could transform and revolutionise the world with genuine fraternal care and love.

Let us truly become our sister’s and our brother’s keeper. One by one we can start the revolution of love and sharing. Let your fast for Ramadan, Lent or whenever you fast have a transformative effect in renewing the face of the earth. Yes, we all need a message and a wake-up call!