What kind of fast?

Isaiah 58:6-7

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:

to break the chains of injustice,

get rid of exploitation in the workplace,

free the oppressed,

cancel debts.

What I'm interested in seeing you do is:

sharing your food with the hungry,

inviting the homeless poor into your homes,

putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

being available to your own families.

Smudging our foreheads with ash

Fasting from whatever normally consumes us

- be it technology, food or drink

Focussing on our intentions

to give thanks

or to de-clutter

or to be more intentional in our living 

may be good reminders

of the season 

or of our intention to make space for God

in our all too busy lives...

But it's not enough 

It's not enough when there are beggars in our High Streets 

It's not enough when those who serve our country (any country)

are homeless 

or unemployed

It's not enough

when we turn our back

on those exiled

forced to flee from their homes

and their lands 

because of war

or persecution

or genocide.

It's not enough

when we'd rather funds arms

or oil

than clean water

or health care

or education.

Unless each grain of ash

symbolises our commitment

to embrace repentance

to seek forgiveness

and to work on restoration

of justice for all...

Unless each smudge 

signals our whole hearted desire

to embrace the other - 

Those in our midst

and those far off

Unless we are prepared

to wear our love

as visibly as the ash

by which we show our privilege

of birth,

Unless we feed the hungry

and clothe the naked

and shelter the homeless

and welcome the stranger

God is not served

and the kingdom is not built 

and our fasting is in vain.

May the ashes we don

be a symbol of intent

followed up by action

that ushers in

the reign of God.