I will fast, but…
I will fast for those whom life has forced to fast, deprived of a loaf of bread, who fell asleep in a refugee tent while hunger stayed on guard at the tent’s door.
I will fast for those whom the leader made fast on purpose, so they would knock at his door in the morning begging for a plate of food and vote for him in the evening… and the homeland remained an exile from its own children.
I will fast for the clergy – and I am one of them – who have kept the faithful fasting from the bread of heaven, going off to the tasty tables of the rich to devour, in the name of religion, the food of the poor… and the mould for the hosts stayed empty.
I will fast for the scientists who discovered a cure but keep the sick fasting from health; they worshipped money, and man remained the prey of disease, of drugs and of man… and the Virgin wept again over Jesus crucified on the wood of money.
I will fast for the leaders of nations who have kept so many fasting from work, from travel, from dreams, from meeting their loved ones, from peace, because their security comes before their faith… and poor Lazarus stayed seven ages at their door, injustice and tyranny infecting his sores.
I will fast for those who brainwashed our young men and women with the water of fanaticism: one put the image of Christ on his weapon and fought to “liberate”, another stuck a verse on his dagger and slit the throats of children to convert others by force… and religion remained a factory of terror, and the demons carried off the shreds of humanity to Lucifer.
I will fast for the drug dealers who live in palaces built on the overdose of a young man who died at twenty… dealers who live in palaces built on the tears of parents who sold everything to save their daughter from addiction; and here they are today, parents and daughter, under the bridge, addicted together to tears and despair… while the big dealer stayed on his balcony, smoking his pipe over the bodies of the young… Yesterday he gave money to build a mosque and a church.
I will fast for the one who got his colleague fired so he could be promoted at the cost of his colleague’s poverty. I will fast for the one who entered a married couple’s life to commit adultery on the bed of the couple’s children.
I will fast for the one who cheated his brother to inherit more than him.
I will fast for the one who left the woman he loved for money and fame… and humanity kept bleeding on the pages of life.
I will fast for all of these, that they may repent, that they may burn in the fire of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
I will fast for all of these, that the whip of Christ may smash their temples, their idols, their money, their trades and their vices… Then the ashes will blossom on my forehead too: light and love. And I will surely hear the Mother of humanity, Mary, cry out at the top of her voice: “My son is risen! He is truly risen!”
(Fr. Fadi Rouhana)
