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Sunday, April 02, 2006 @ 2:08 p.m.

Fasting with a purpose

It's something I heard about on Ash Wednesday this year and I just bumped into a link to this site just now.

It follows the model given to us by the early Church, who would fast and use the money saved by fasting to fill a need in the community. I think this is something that will shape how I view Lent for years to come. How selfish is it that I abstain from something so that I can reflect on Jesus? Wouldn't my fast be better spent by modeling Christ and being Christ to someone who needs help? The need we fill doesn't have to be purified water in Africa. It can be as simple as helping out a soup kitchen with a donation or giving to your chruch's care ministry.

I think that as a church and as a society, we have a tendancy to look at our own needs first, rather than to help others. Maybe the best way to remember Christ, His suffering, and how He saved us, is to try to be like Christ and to use our suffering (what we gave up) to help someone else.
posted by member Evan
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