This is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. This admonition from the prophet Isaiah serves as a reminder as we begin Lent that this season is not about our self-improvement. The prophetic word is that God seeks the building of connections, particularly with those who are hurting. We don’t have many opportunities to share our bread or clothe the naked during the pandemic. What we can do is learn why these situations exist, to examine the systems that promote social inequality.
