July 6, 2024, Saturday
St. Maria Goretti Read: Am 9: 11-15 Mt 9: 14-17
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mt 9:14)
Jesus did not diminish the importance of external manifestations of piety: “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” (Mk. 1:44)
Yet the most important part of our religion is our internal attitude: of love, gratefulness, brotherly concern, etc.
“Those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (Jn. 4:21-24)
Our entire person gives testimony and recognition to the Lord. We raise our hands in prayer. We sing hymns of praise with our mouths and throats; we say prayers with our tongues.
We can negate God’s love through our external actions by not loving our neighbor.
Fasting is a physical manifestation, which we can perform to show sorrow for sin and contrition of the soul. It is reparation, through the denial of sensual satisfaction and pleasure, for whatever overindulgences we may have engaged in when we chose sin and gluttony over love and moderation.
Yet fasting, without charity, kindness, service, and love, is useless.
Reflection and commentary
Psalm 25:16 “Look upon me, pity me, for I am alone and afflicted.”
St. Maria Goretti, d. 1902 at age 12; she was stabbed to death, preferring to die rather than be raped alive; with her mother present, she was canonized in 1950 before the largest crowd ever assembled in Rome for canonization; patroness of teenage girls.
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