[Enjknsua]

Fr. David,

If you please, I gladely accept what you say here as I love a good t-bone any day of the week, but how does breaking our fast to those who are "watching" us show to them we are serious about our faith? If something as simple as food is set aside just beause it is put in front of us, how more easily are all the other faith practises we have put aside? How do I tell them I can eat your steak, but I can't take your communion? This seems contradictory.

With any meal, there is usually, always lenten dishes served (unknowningly) by the host. I was more supporting eating these items and perhaps pushing around with my fork the nonlenten parts of the meal so as to not be so obvious I was not eating them.

I can't see telling my host I love you, I'll eat your nonlenten food anyway. (of course this would never come out of my mouth) Whenever I go to family who knows I am fasting and they are respectful of it, I get an inner "fear" when they put something nonfasting in front of me. I wonder to myself, do I eat or not? I always do as I am such a glutten and this is an easy excuse to not offend.

Confused

Paul