Fasting Together As we approach Lent, we take a few minutes to reflect on how our fast will transform us, deepen our relationships with our brothers and sisters around the world, with creation and most of all, with God. Photo: Thom Flint CAFOD partner name: Caritas Gokwe Marian stands proudly with other members of Chinyama community vegetable garden, holding her two-month-old baby girl Talent. When 42-year-old Marian Magumise’s children were younger, she didn’t have enough to feed them. Hunger made Marian tired and feverish, but she knew the hunger must be worse for her children. She’d leave her son Tawanda in the morning while she went looking for work, and when she came back hours later, he would still be sitting in the same place. Caritas gave Marian vegetable seeds, nutrition and farming training, and fenced off a community vegetable garden to keep it safe from livestock. Marian is now growing a range of nutritious vegetables, nuts and beans for her children. Tawanda, now 21, also has his own vegetable plot. Marian’s youngest son, Svondo, is healthy and growing well compared to when Tawanda was his age. He has a good diet and especially loves peanut butter.

Isaiah 58: 6-7 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Let us listen together to the words of the prophet Isaiah Photo: Marian making peanut butter

How does my fast bring me closer to God? How do I hold the whole of God’s family in prayer whilst fasting? How do I express my joy of fasting? How does fasting make me feel? When we are asked to fast, we are asked to do so joyfully and always with prayer and almsgiving.   Please take a few moments to consider these questions… Photo: Women tend to their crops at Chinyama community vegetable garden. Caritas Gokwe provided vegetable seeds, nutrition and farming training, and fenced off a community vegetable garden to keep it safe from livestock. 47 community members now grow a range of nutritious vegetables on their plots for their families to eat and to sell.

Isaiah 58: 6-7 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Please continue to reflect on the questions as I read the passage from Isaiah once more… Photo: Tomatoes growing at Chinyama community vegetable garden, Zimbabwe.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be World without end. Amen Photo: Svondo enjoying his peanut butter.