Week 12: Jesus Responds to the Pharisees

Readings:

• Calling of Levi
  • Luke 5:27-32
  • Matthew 9:9-13
  • Mark 2:13-17
• Jesus is Questioned about Fasting
  • Luke 5:33-39
  • Mark 2:18-22
  • Matthew 9:14-17
• The Sabbath
  • Luke 6:1-11
  • Mark 2:23-3:6
  • Matthew 12:1-14

Resources:

• HH Pope Shenouda II
  • The Spirituality of Fasting: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ujgqs1ct6givkm4/The%20Spirituality%20of%20Fasting%20-%20HH%20Pope%20Shenouda%20III.pdf?dl=0
• HG Bishop Youssef
  • Luke 5 Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/his-grace-bishop-youssef/luke-5-27-39-bible-study 
  • Luke 6 Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/his-grace-bishop-youssef/luke-6-1-26-bible-study-english-arabic 
• Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
  • Luke - https://www.dropbox.com/s/81uupstc71zfyd9/042_Luke.pdf?dl=0

Quiz:

• https://forms.gle/frDtScW9zet5BQe99 

Material:

• Luke 5b: HG Bishop Youssef
• Why do we fast in the Orthodox Church?
  • The Lord was not against fasting... but rather, there is a time for it and the time of the Bridegroom is not it
  • This is why we are not even allowed to fast during the Holy 50 Days of the Resurrection - because the Bridegroom is with us
  • We see at the Transfiguration of Christ that two people appear next to Him: Moses and Elijah
    • Moses, Elijah, and the Lord Himself all fasted 40 days
    • It's a message for us that by conquering the body through fasting, the spirit becomes manifest and the body is transfigured.
  • Fasting is the earliest commandment known to mankind
    • God commanded Adam and Eve to refrain from eating a certain fruit from a certain tree
    • God set for the body certain limits beyond which it should not go
  • By abstaining from food, man rises above the level of the body and above matter
    • If the first man had succeeded in triumphing over his bodily desire for food, it would have proven that his soul had overcome his bodily desires
    • Nevertheless, his own body defeated him
    • "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)
  • The Prophets Fasted
  • The Apostles Fasted
  • Whole Nations Fasted
  • Fasting is a Gift
    • Not merely a commandment, but a godly gift with grace and blessing
  • Fasting precedes every grace and service
    • Preparation for receiving every blessing
      • Before every feast, we fast
      • Before receiving the Eucharist, we fast
    • Precedes every Service
      • A priest fasts 40 days when he is ordained before starting his ministry
      • The Lord, Himself, fasted before starting His service
      • The Apostles fasted after receiving the Holy Spirit
  • Fasting unites us as a Church
  • There is joy in fasting - a spiritual person will find it
• As we are approaching the Advent Fast next week, let us take some practical steps to prepare ourselves for fasting...
  
  • Sit with your Father of Confession to arrange for the fast - what kind of spiritual canon will he give you?
  • Finish the meat and dairy that is in your fridge so we don't come next Wednesday and say "well I just need to finish what we have and then we'll start fasting"
  • Plan a Thanksgiving Dinner with your family for Sunday or Monday so you don't postpone the fasting until after Thanksgiving... and then until after we finish the leftovers
• Luke 6a: HG Bishop Youssef (Sections titled: "Introduction", "Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath", "Healing on the Sabbath", "The Twelve Apostles")