20 February 2021
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lent and fasting used to be synonymous. The Church has changed that for good reasons, and yet the spirit of fasting remains. In yesterday’s 1st reading Isaiah defines the fast that pleases the Lord. It is charity, “not following your own ways, seeking your own interests.” Then, there is today’s Gospel where Jesus invites Matthew to follow him. Matthew accepts the call. The result a joyful banquet.
There’s many a Matthew redux in our country today: young men who hear and accept Christ’s invitation to follow Him as priests. The need today for good priests is great; yet greater will it be tomorrow. So, not seeking my own interests, I shall pray to the Lord to call many young men to follow Him, and I shall pray that those being called will accept the Matthew option.
The Gospel tells us that Matthew’s acceptance of the call was celebrated in a great banquet. I dream of great banquets, especially in Lent. I hope Isaiah would see my virtual attendance is motivated “not by following my own ways”, but in prayers of thanksgiving for young men in seminaries today, and prayers of petition that their numbers increase.