“The hypocrites of Jesus’ day tried to look as gloomy as possible when they fasted. They had even developed ways of disfiguring their faces with special markings in order to make sure people knew they were fasting…Jesus points out they get what they want. They want to be noticed in being “devout,” and they certainly are noticed. “I tell you the truth,” He says again, “they have their reward” (Matthew 6:16); that is the one they were looking for.
And then he points us in the right direction for fasting as a practice in kingdom living. “Take a shower,” he says “and fix yourself up. Brush your teeth. Put on lotion and cologne and nice clothing so that others won’t know you are fasting. Your Father who is in secret will see your hidden heart and enrich your life” (Matthew 6:17-18). Once again, one is impressed with what refreshing good sense characterizes Jesus’ words.
Of course, if we are not well experienced with fasting in the spirit of Christ, we may think that we will be miserable when we fast. If we are miserable, shouldn’t we look that way? Could Jesus be asking us to “fake it”? And indeed those who do not fast with God alone in view, or who have not yet learned how to do it well, will be miserable–as, no doubt, “the hypocrites” were.
But Jesus himself knew that when we have learned how to fast “in secret,” our bodies and our souls will be directly sustained by the invisible kingdom. We will not be miserable. But we certainly will be different. And our abundant strength and our joy will come in ways a purely physical human existence in “the flesh” does not know. It will come from those sources that are “in secret”…
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. John 4:31-34
Dallas Willard (1935-2013) in The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1998) 195-196.
Last week we celebrated God’s generosity in giving us the the gift of prayer. Likewise as we fast in body and spirit today let us celebrate the divine sustenance we graciously receive from the One whose abundance sustains all of creation (cf. Colossians 1:17) and us as we do the will of the Father. This is the food the world knows nothing about. Not sure how to partake of it? Try this exercise.
What are all the things the world says you need? You need… You need… You need… Write them on a piece of paper. Now consider things you have recently said you need? I need… I need… I need… List those things too. Look at what you have written down. Now take five minutes in silence and ask God what you need. Journal what comes to mind in secret.