Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving
We can always do something.
I sometimes hear, "Father, I feel like there is nothing I can do about this situation.”
These words often reflect despair, frustration, anger, and confusion. It can become very easy to believe “there is nothing that I can do about this situation.”
I’ll be the first to admit: I have moments of saying to myself, “I feel like there is nothing I can do about this situation.” But, this thought is a lie.
A Christian can always do something, always. This is crucial to remember.
The advice that I frequently give to individuals reflects the three main spiritual movements of Lent. The spiritual practices of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—offer a framework for action.
Let me illustrate this with a hypothetical example. Imagine parents frustrated with their daughter’s relationship with a troubled boyfriend. They’ve financially supported him in the past, but their efforts haven’t helped and have even caused bitterness. Now, they feel stuck, unsure how to support their daughter without enabling the boyfriend’s behavior.
In this situation, the parents could reevaluate their approach to almsgiving. Financial support has proven ineffective, but giving alms might take other forms, like having an honest and loving conversation. This must be done with "truth in charity"—sharing clear, direct words rooted in love. But maybe the honest, difficult conversations have already happened. What should these parents do, still give alms?
Due to the complexity of a given situation, sometimes prayer and fasting are far more effective than giving alms in a particular way. Therefore, we ought to direct our energy toward a different spiritual move when these situations arise.
Prayer and fasting are powerful. While some see these practices as passive, they are anything but. Prayer invites God’s power, while fasting offers sacrifices to align hearts with His will. These acts change the dynamic of a situation without crossing boundaries or enabling harmful behaviors. They are a way of “doing something” that is spiritually effective.
I also share with people the fantastic Gospel story of Jesus healing the boy with a demon. After the healing, “the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’” Jesus then responds to the disciples, “This kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17: 19-21).
What a lesson this must have been for the disciples! They were hungry and eager to help others in need. They desired to be filled with Christ’s power to perform miracles and rectify problems around them...Sound familiar?
Yet, Jesus gives them a clear message: sometimes prayer and fasting are what we must do. Notice, too, that Jesus doesn’t say to them, “There are moments when there is nothing that you can do.” Instead, Jesus directs His disciples toward two of the most powerful spiritual moves: prayer and fasting.
It’s this type of mentality that I often bring to individuals who are simply exhausted, frustrated, and confused with a messy situation (and these most often deal with family, those closest to us at the dinner table). There is always something we can do regardless of the complexity of a given situation.
We always have options amid life’s most messy and difficult situations.
Pray. Fast. Give alms.
Simply put, there is always something we can do.
Fr. Ben Daghir
