Fasting with Courage, Integrity and Loyalty

Fasting with Courage, Integrity and Loyalty

We are aware of what fasting is (in Filipino, pag-aayuno). I admire this kind of discipline in Catholics. It is sacrifice and at the same time a form of mortification to share our sufferings with Christ.

In the Gospel today, the Evil One did everything to make Jesus fall into temptation. Satan asked Jesus to turn the stones into bread, to test the Father to send His angels to rescue him and worst, to worship Satan and his evil ways. Isn’t it surprising that Satan was able to test God? He does not have any rights to do so. But again, it is a great manifestation that Christ was fully human.

We human beings have lots of limitations. No matter how holy we are or how holy we want to be, the Devil will always whisper to us “worship me.” Satan will never show up in an ugly form. Especially in our age, we totally have lots of temptations around us. Let us face reality people! Who do you think the girl will answer: the handsome man or the ugly guy?

We human beings are easily tempted by Satan. He knows when and how to manipulate our minds. Fasting is one way that we can get rid of the temptations of the Devil. Whenever we fast, we can focus our minds better and we can feel that we are inspired by the Holy Spirit. I say this because I had experienced it. I wasn’t able to focus myself on prayers during one of the nights we had scheduled our Benediction because I ate 15 minutes before the said time. But let us be reminded that fasting should never be limited to food alone. Fasting should be more of spiritual. We should fast and abstain from committing sins again and again. Think of this, my friends, which do you prefer-A man who fasts during Lent yet in his mind and actions he is very sinful? Or a man who eats meat on Fridays yet he is loving and generous to others?

Jesus is fully divine and fully human. He was tempted and so are we. But what is the BIG difference? He had never fallen into temptation. And what he had taught is that we can also do it even if we are human beings. Kayang-kaya ng tao maging tulad ng Diyos!

God never makes Satan’s Army disappear in an instance simply because God knows that we can do it ourselves if we choose to love and worship Him rather than worshipping Satan. Remember the motto of the Philippine Military Academy: Courage, Integrity and Loyalty. No need to expound those three words. Put our trust in God and not our stomach to the food. We are soldiers of Christ remember?

Cadets, brothers and sisters in Christ, countrymen: Together we proclaim!

If God is with me, no one is against me!