This will be a familiar piece of scripture for anyone who has read much of the Bible but I was struck again by it when I was reading yesterday. It comes after a section where Isaiah has described how the people have been fasting because they ‘seem eager’ to know the ways of God.

However, we find out that they are frustrated that God hasn’t seen their fasting although the reason becomes clear. Even though they have fasted, on the day of their fasting they did what they pleased, they exploited their workers, they quarrelled and fought with one another.

Then Isaiah follows up with this famous passage…..

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:6-9

This is a reminder to me that simply completing a practise is not what following Jesus is all about. Practises were meant to lead us into something bigger. When we ‘practise’ them we are meant to look more like Jesus.

Doing that, or becoming this, is more challenging than actually completing the practise itself which is why so many of us settle for the practise alone.

I must remember this on my next fast!!