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")