How, exactly, might a Lenten practice “shadow” the Christ who is its substance?
This question come from a reader, who was tracking with my “Shadowing Christ at Lent” post, but wanted to drill down a bit into how to think through the Christological implications of a practice of fasting.
It seems that all the rage these days is to take on additional practices either in addition to or instead of laying something aside. I’m a big fan of letting Lent be lent, and focusing on the setting aside. So I’ll focus there. 
The imagery of a shadow is significant for working this through. A shadow is not merely the shape or form of some object. A shadow is an absence cast by that object’s presence. A shadow is darkness, absence of light, a nothingness, that indicates some other that is catching the light and, from the right perspective, visible.
Entering into a Lent and deciding to fast is entering into that dark space in order to learn afresh that Jesus is the One whose body provides the substance that we all to often look for elsewhere.
When I literally fast, abstaining from food, I enter into that shadow space which reminds me that the bread I truly seek is Christ who is the Bread of Life come down from heaven. I am reminded that turning to food as source of comfort, or in an attempt to fill that emptiness that is larger and deeper than my physical stomach, is a fool’s errand.
When I give up the momentary pleasures of chocolate or alcohol, I enter into the shadow space that reminds me that joy and pleasure are to be had in abundance for God’s people, and that their enduring form is found in union with the crucified and risen Christ.
When I give up the normal routine of turning to this radio station or that playlist or the store between work and home, I step into the shadow space where the darkness cast by Christ’s shadow reminds me that he is the new normal for all who would be citizens of the Kingdom over which he is King. And his body might have a new politics or a new song or a new economics that I need to live into.
How does Lent shadow?
By shedding abroad darkness where once there was a perhaps dim, earthly light, our vision becomes recalibrated, and we open fresh possibilities of walking by the true light that was coming into the world.
Thank you for this. A life-long Presbyterian, a tribe for whom Lent has not historically come easily, this is the first year I’ve attempted to do any kind of Lenten fast, however modest and “baby step,” at all. I’m embarassed to admit how often in just the first week I’ve been tempted to break it. Your comments on shadow space are very welcome and timely!