Christianity Today Op-Ed: Why Christians Fast During Lent, by Phoebe Farag Mikhail (Author, Hunger for Righteousness: A Lenten Journey Towards Intimacy with God and Loving our Neighbor (2025)):
Not every Christian tradition has continued … abstinence from meat, fish, and dairy in its practice of Lent, of course. Nonetheless, it’s important for all of us to recognize the main purpose of this form of abstinence: almsgiving. Historically, those who could afford to eat meat and dairy on a regular basis were supposed to give the cost of that food as alms. Those who fasted further by abstaining from food till a specific hour were to give the cost of the skipped meal or two to the poor as well.
This connection is deliberate. It serves as a chance to take stock of all the excess that we have acquired and return some of it to those who do not have excess.
Recently, I sat down and calculated how much my family of five spent on meat and dairy products in January and saw that they constituted about 50 percent of our total food budget for that month, even though they constituted a much lower percentage of our actual food by volume. If I am practicing Lenten almsgiving, I should now be giving a good portion of what I’m not spending on these items to those in need, as what is left is vegetables, fruits, grains, starches, and legumes, which are usually much less expensive than meat and dairy. …
Whether or not we fast from meat and dairy, or whether or not we save money from this, knowing that almsgiving is the point means we can still find ways to offer to the physically hungry during the fast. Perhaps we can consider how many times a week or month we eat out, and we choose instead to eat at home and donate the cost of this meal to the hungry, or we deliver such a meal to someone who needs something hot and satisfying.
What we need to cultivate for Great Lent is not only a generosity of resources but also a generosity of spirit, and that is true even if we are the ones in need of alms—if we already know what it means to be truly physically hungry before a fast appears on our calendars.
Lent is our opportunity to consider what it means to have that hunger and thirst for righteousness, not just for food and drink. And Lent is our opportunity to receive love from our “own flesh,” too, in the words of Isaiah. We might not have food to “lift up” during these weeks of preparation, but we can lift up others in prayer for our brothers and sisters. If we are the recipients of alms, we are also part of the circle of Lenten solidarity.
Phoebe Farag Mikhail (Author, Hunger for Righteousness: A Lenten Journey Towards Intimacy with God and Loving our Neighbor (2025)):
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6
If you're looking to deepen your faith this Lenten season and beyond, this book will inspire you to live out the words of Jesus, hunger for righteousness, and be filled with God's grace.
Hunger for Righteousness is an inspiring and insightful journey through the practices of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, offering fresh perspectives on spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and repentance. Based on the powerful words of Jesus in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled," this book invites readers to explore what it truly means to hunger for righteousness in our modern world.
Farag Mikhail combines biblical wisdom, historical insights, and personal stories of Christian heroes—both ancient and contemporary—to bring the traditions of Lent alive in a way that is deeply relatable and transformative. Through engaging reflections on key Lenten practices, Mikhail challenges readers to consider how these timeless rituals not only draw us closer to God, but also call us to serve others, mend relationships, and fight injustice.
Each chapter is designed to provoke thoughtful action, with reflection questions that help readers apply biblical truths to their own spiritual journeys. Whether you're looking for a way to enhance your personal Lenten practices or seeking a resource for group study, Hunger for Righteousness offers practical guidance for embracing the season of Lent in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Discover how Lent was originally a time of preparation—not just for personal transformation but for joining the body of believers through baptism, and how the early Christian practices of Lent emphasize communal growth, repentance, and reconciliation. Through this book, you'll rediscover how Lent is not just an individual spiritual journey, but a time for building new relationships, forgiving others, and embracing the call to live out righteousness in every area of life.
Hunger for Righteousness is perfect for those seeking to rededicate themselves to the spiritual disciplines of Lent, offering a rich combination of theological depth, practical advice, and personal reflection. This is more than just a book about Lent—it's a guide to living a life of righteousness, reconciliation, and hope, as you prepare to celebrate the Resurrection with a heart more attuned to God’s will.
If we pay closer attention to the earliest Christian Lenten traditions, we’ll discover how Lent was a period during which individuals who wanted to become Christian prepared themselves not for personal transformation, but to join the body of believers, the communion of saints, through baptism. By examining our liturgical prayers and Scripture readings developed over centuries, we’ll discover the ways Lent has always been a time for individual repentance, yes, but first for giving and forgiving, for mending relationships and building new ones, for fighting injustice, and for growing in intimacy with God communally, not just individually.
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