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")
