IN observance of Lenten season, we challenge the faithful to be conscious of his environment, the ethical, spiritual and physical benefits of observing No Meat Friday. It is one good way of being responsible stewards of the Lord, by taking good care of what He has blessed us with our body, the environment and all His creations.
The No Meat Friday campaign is a powerful habit to test our discipline this Lenten season, and a spiritual habit to practice good stewardship. “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles” (Romans 14:21).
Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scientifically, we are aware that many of our health problems like chronic diseases are a result of excessive meat consumption. In addition, abstaining from meat is good for the environment as it can help lower the 6 billion tons of greenhouse gases from animals.
Instead of meat, we are encouraging all the Catholic faithful to eat the healthiest food, which is really plant-based, more of vegetables and fruits. It helps strengthen our self-control from the temptations of the world and pay attention to our faith for a moment, which is good for spiritual renewal.
Also, abstaining from eating meat should become a prayer prompt. It’s also about praying more and drawing close to God. The little sacrifice of giving up meat should also remind us about the third aspect of Lenten sacrifice—alms giving.
When we give up flesh meat, we should be reminded to give up permanently all the sins of the flesh. Giving up meat therefore should help us set our minds on things above and not on this world.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all remember that if “you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well” (Acts 15:29). The specific Catholic rules on fasting are not an end in themselves, but a prompt to get us to examine the real reasons and ask the right questions and discover the real point of it all.
May God continue to bless and prosper your sacrifices for Him this Lenten season.
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