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Good morning. The top-trending diet of the past year, if internet searches are anything to go by, is intermittent fasting. Its adherents boast not only of weight loss, but also improved concentration, increased energy and lower levels of cholesterol. Of course, intermittent fasting – like meditation, retreats, minimalism and other 21st century discoveries – is not a passing fad, but a practice with ancient roots, common to many civilisations throughout the world and throughout history.

Christians have, for example, traditionally fasted during the season of Lent. But the purpose of the Lenten fast is much more than mere physical self-improvement. Nor is fasting meant to be a demonstration of heroic will-power to attract the admiration of others; still less, an ulterior way of shedding a bit of excess weight picked up over Christmas.

Quite the opposite: Christian fasting is meant to turn us out from ourselves and towards others: to help us to become more aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters, especially those for whom hunger is not limited only to certain times of the year but is a dangerous daily reality. Fasting is meant to help us to feel physically a desire for what is good, true and beautiful: little wonder Jesus holds up as ‘blessed’ those who hunger, not for takeaways and chocolate bars, but for his Kingdom of justice and peace.

Lord, create in us today a hunger for what will truly satisfy, increase our appetite for charity and fill us to bulging with your love. If we deny ourselves today, help us to do so in a spirit of humility and love for others: turn our attention away from ourselves and towards those who need our help.  Amen.