It is clear that Jesus commended fasting when speaking to the disciples
Colin Nevin writes: “Jesus fasted in the wilderness for us. We don’t need to do it ourselves.”
(The letter can be read here:‘Pancake Tuesday is an old tradition, but we do not need to fast for Lent,’ February 25)
Lenten self-denial or fasting is a feature of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.
It has been borrowed by some Protestant groups; and fasting itself seems entirely consistent with the witness of the New Testament.
The words ‘if’ and ‘when’ carry very different inferences in English.
Jesus speaking to the disciples says: “When you fast...”
Our Lord clearly commends fasting and the use of the word — ‘when’ — here is important.
Reading the Old Testament reminds us that prayer and fasting both have a long pedigree.
When seeking God’s guidance and protection Church leaders have every right to recommend following this precedent: “... I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we travelled’. (Ezra 8:21)
James Hardy, Belfast BT5