Fasting and the Eternal Prize

Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race,
but only one wins the prize?
Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one.
Thus I do not run aimlessly;
I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
No, I drive my body and train it…(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians stresses the importance of discipline and “winning the prize.”

Prizes are important to people, especially those who work hard to compete in sports and other events. This past summer, many of us watched athletes receiving medals at the Rio Olympics. Athletes who were competing have worked most of their lives preparing for this very important competition.

Athletes tend to be very disciplined, well-trained and driven. All of these qualities are important for every human being, not just athletes. All of us want to win the greatest prize of heaven.

But how do we get there? How do we win the eternal prize? A strong sacramental life is very important. Prayer and reading Scripture are also important. But there’s one vital thing that most Catholics are not doing as part of their spiritual routine: Fasting.

Fasting is not just for Lent. Fasting on bread and water (or eating less food) on Wednesdays and Fridays during the year helps us to exercise discipline. Fasting helps us to train our bodies, our minds and our souls.

Fasting helps to train our bodies to rest from the usual amount of food, and it is well-known that fasting is good for our physical bodies. Fasting trains our bodies to distinguish between a want and a need. Those who can fast are less likely to have addictions and more likely to be able to overcome them. Fasting helps to teach our souls to think of others before ourselves. Fasting helps us to love others and God.

Winning the prize of heaven takes hard work and discipline.

Fasting is not easy. Fasting takes a lot of work. Fasting takes self-control. But fasting as part of our spiritual routine will help us to increase in virtue and to gain the eternal prize of heaven.

Our souls need fasting. Our world needs fasting. In Scripture, (Mark 9:27-29) Jesus tells the apostles that said that some demons can only be expelled through prayer and fasting. This is the power of fasting and this is what our world needs.

For more information on how to get started with fasting, check out our website (http://livethefast.org) Always check with your physician before beginning any fasting routine.

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Live the Fast is a Roman Catholic Apostolate that is focused on bringing more awareness to the discipline of fasting by offering educational resources on prayer and fasting, a prayer community that will inspire one to live the fast and providing nutritious fasting breads. (Priests and religious receive fasting breads and resources free of charge.)