TRUE FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING

SCRIPTURE READINGS ISAIAH 58:1-122 CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:10MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-21 REFLECTION Ash Wednesday marks the solemn commencement of Lent, a forty-day journey of fasting, prayer, and penitence in preparation for the glorious celebration of Easter. It is a day that confronts us with our mortality, reminding us through the imposition of ashes that we are but dust, yet…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Feb 17, 2026

5–7 minutes

bible, faith, fasting, jesus, prayer

SCRIPTURE READINGS

ISAIAH 58:1-12
2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:10
MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-21

REFLECTION

Ash Wednesday marks the solemn commencement of Lent, a forty-day journey of fasting, prayer, and penitence in preparation for the glorious celebration of Easter. It is a day that confronts us with our mortality, reminding us through the imposition of ashes that we are but dust, yet called to eternal life through Jesus Christ. This season serves as a divine invitation to be reconciled to God, moving beyond mere religious tradition into a profound spiritual awakening. The theme for this reflection, “True Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving,” challenges us to examine the authenticity of our devotion. In this context, Fasting is defined not merely as the abstinence from food, but as a sacrificial redirection of the heart toward God. Prayer is the intentional pursuit of reconciliation and communion with the Father, and Almsgiving is the tangible expression of God’s love through justice and charity. Through the lenses of Isaiah 58:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10, and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, we will explore three key lessons: the necessity of spiritual sincerity, the mandate for social justice, and the promise of divine restoration.

The Call to Spiritual Sincerity

True devotion begins in the “secret place” of the heart. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns against the performative piety that often plagues religious communities. He instructs, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). The essence of prayer and fasting is lost when it becomes a tool for social validation. Jesus specifically addresses the optics of fasting, saying, “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” (Matthew 6:16).

A modern reflection of this is seen in the vast expansion of Christianity across the globe, particularly in Africa, where prayer marathons and public fasts are common. Yet, if these activities do not result in a changed heart, they remain superficial. Jesus provides the remedy for this hypocrisy: “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 6:17-18). Our spirituality must not be a mask but a genuine encounter with the Living God.

The Mandate for Social Justice and Mercy

The second lesson is that true fasting and prayer are inseparable from our treatment of others. The Prophet Isaiah provides a scathing critique of the Israelites who fasted while continuing to exploit their workers and engage in strife. God asks rhetorically, “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?” (Isaiah 58:5).

God’s definition of a “true fast” is revolutionary. It is active, not passive. It is external in its impact, even as it is internal in its source. Scripture declares: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Practically, this means our Lenten journey is hollow if it does not lead us to fight corruption in our workplaces, advocate for the marginalised in our judiciary, or offer bread to the starving in our streets. We are called to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), representing His justice in a broken world. As Paul urges, we must be careful “not to receive God’s grace in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). True almsgiving is the fruit of a heart that has been truly reconciled to God.+1

The Promise of Divine Restoration

When we align our spiritual disciplines with God’s heart, the results are transformative. The rewards of true fasting are not just personal spiritual highs, but a holistic restoration of the individual and the community. Scripture promises that if we do away with the yoke of oppression and malicious talk, “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 58:8).

The relationship becomes interactive and responsive: “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I” (Isaiah 58:9). The text paints a beautiful picture of a life surrendered to God’s way: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:11). This is the ultimate goal of Lent: to become “well-watered gardens” that bring life to the “sun-scorched” areas of our society.

Conclusion

In summary, the season of Lent is not a mere ritual of abstinence, but a call to authentic transformation. True fasting, prayer, and almsgiving require us to move beyond the superficial display of piety toward a sincere heart that seeks God in secret and serves humanity in public. We must bridge the gap between our Sunday worship and our Monday conduct, ensuring that our spiritual exercises produce the fruits of justice, mercy, and love.

Call to Action: This Lenten season, I challenge you to look beyond the plate. While you abstain from food, ask yourself: What “yoke of oppression” can I break today? Whose hunger can I satisfy? Let us move from “religious performance” to “kingdom impact.” Reconcile with your neighbour, be honest in your dealings, and let your charity be a silent offering to God.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the season of Lent. We acknowledge our frailty and our need for Your grace. Lord, grant us the strength to practice a fast that pleases You. Remove the spirit of hypocrisy from our hearts and fill us with a genuine love for Your Word and Your people. Help us to be true ambassadors of Christ, bringing light to the darkness and hope to the oppressed. May our prayers be sincere and our almsgiving be a true reflection of Your mercy. “For God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.