When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18
“Fasting is the affliction of the flesh. It makes an offering to the Lord of mourning garments and scantiness of food, content with a simple diet and the pure drink of water. It is a victim able to appease the Lord by means of the sacrifice of humiliation… This bodily patience adds grace to our prayers for good and strength to our prayers against evil.”
Tertullian of Carthage (c. 155-225) as recounted in A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, ed. by David W. Bercot (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998) 275.
What do we learn while fasting during Lent?
Among other lessons, Tertullian says that this practice of “affliction of the flesh” teaches us “bodily patience” which adds grace and strength to our prayers. The setting aside of our desires positions us for an outpouring of God’s grace and helps us tap the source of unfathomable strength.
As we start the third week of Lent, consider how bodily patience will shape life after Lent. Less of ourselves positions us to have greater bandwidth to receive and give more of God’s abundance wherever we go. If this idea of learning “bodily patience” sounds too esoteric, think with me in more plain terms.
If we spend less money on ourselves, eat less food we likely don’t need anyway, and waste less time with unnecessary activities, we have more margin to live, give, serve, and love like Jesus. Simple spending, simple eating, simple living position us for greater generosity in all of life.