In today's Gospel reading from John 12, Jesus says, "I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness." It seems to me there's a lot of darkness in the world today. Jesus is the antidote to the darkness.
In our first reading from Acts 12 and 13, the leaders of the Church in Antioch receive a message from the Holy Spirit. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off."
We're in the Easter season; the Lenten days of fasting are over. But can we still fast? Of course we can! When fasting is combined with prayer and worship, it opens us up even more to the Holy Spirit. Is there ever a bad time to fast? I don't think so. If you want to supercharge your prayer and discernment, add fasting to the mix.
Father, show us how fasting can bring us closer to you, and open us more to your Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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