Fasting
Using **sensus plenior** (Latin for "fuller sense"), which refers to the deeper, sometimes prophetic or hidden meaning within a text, we can explore how the **Incarnation** of Jesus relates to fasting in a spiritual or theological sense.
- 1. **The Incarnation as a Fulfillment of Humanity's Need**
At the heart of the Incarnation (God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ) is the idea that God entered into human suffering, weakness, and frailty to redeem and sanctify humanity. The act of fasting, as seen in the biblical tradition, is often an expression of humility, repentance, and dependence on God. It involves self-denial and recognizing the need for divine intervention.
In a **sensus plenior** sense, the Incarnation can be viewed as God taking on human flesh in order to fast, metaphorically speaking, on behalf of humanity. Jesus, as fully God and fully man, lived a life of perfect obedience, including the experience of fasting.
For instance: - In **Matthew 4:1-2**, after Jesus is baptized, He spends 40 days fasting in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry. This "fasting" was not just a physical act; it was a profound expression of His solidarity with humanity’s struggle against temptation and sin. - **Hebrews 4:15** emphasizes that Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." His fast can be seen as a symbolic act of spiritual warfare, showing how through His humanity, He overcame the hunger and desires that often drive sinful behavior.
- 2. **Fasting as Union with Christ**
Another way to interpret the relationship between the Incarnation and fasting is through the lens of the **mystical union** believers have with Christ. Christians, by virtue of their baptism, are united to Christ. Fasting, in this sense, can be viewed as a practice that aligns the believer more closely with the life of Christ, particularly His sufferings and self-denial.
- **Philippians 2:5-8** speaks of Jesus "emptying Himself" by taking on the form of a servant and humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross. Fasting can be seen as an act that imitates this kenosis, or self-emptying, of Jesus. Fasting becomes a way for Christians to participate in the self-sacrificial love of Christ, as they deny themselves in order to grow closer to Him and His mission.
- 3. **Fasting as Preparation for the Coming Kingdom**
The Incarnation inaugurated the Kingdom of God, and fasting, in this fuller sense, serves as a preparation for the fuller revelation of that Kingdom. In **Luke 5:34-35**, Jesus Himself references fasting, saying, "But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." The fast that believers observe now is in anticipation of the return of Christ and the consummation of God's Kingdom.
- The **Incarnation** itself was the beginning of God's "taking on" human form to bring about salvation, and fasting is a practice that reminds believers of their longing for Christ's final return, where the ultimate "feast" of communion with God will occur.
- 4. **The Eucharist and Fasting**
The **Eucharist** (Holy Communion), which is the manifestation of Christ’s real presence, can also be seen as linked to fasting in a **sensus plenior** sense. The Eucharist is the "food" for the soul that sustains believers spiritually, while fasting is a way of desiring that sustenance in a deeper, more profound manner. Just as Christ, in His Incarnation, was both the **bread of life** (John 6:35) and the sacrificial **lamb** (John 1:29), fasting can be seen as an act of preparation for receiving this spiritual sustenance.
Thus, fasting in the light of the **Incarnation** can have multiple layers of meaning: - It is a participation in Christ’s own humility and self-denial. - It is a form of spiritual preparation for receiving Christ’s grace and for His ultimate return. - It is a way of living in solidarity with Christ’s life and mission.
Through **sensus plenior**, fasting becomes not just a physical act, but a profound way of aligning oneself with the mystery of the Incarnation — recognizing the deep, hidden meaning in Christ's coming to dwell among us, and allowing that meaning to transform our lives.
