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MEANING AND PURPOSE OF FASTING

MEANING AND PURPOSE OF FASTING. R eviewed and edited by Fr. Daniel Th anks to Chris Metry –Lipscomb university. Meaning of True Fasting? Why? A Must?. What is fasting?. Physically: “Fasting is abstinence from food, for a period, followed by eating food free from animal fat.”

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MEANING AND PURPOSE OF FASTING

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  1. MEANING AND PURPOSE OF FASTING Reviewed and edited by Fr. Daniel Thanks to Chris Metry –Lipscomb university

  2. Meaning of True Fasting? Why? A Must?

  3. What is fasting? Physically: “Fasting is abstinence from food, for a period, followed by eating food free from animal fat.” Spiritually: “Fasting is a spiritual time spent together by the body and soul performing a spiritual act. The body and the soul join in doing the work of the soul, ie. praying, meditating, praising and coming in communion with God.” Excerpt From: H.H. Pope Shenouda III. “The Spirituality of Fasting.”

  4. Importance of Fasting • Fasting is the earliest commandment • By abstaining from food, man rises above the level of the body and above matter, and this is the wisdom behind fasting • Biblical: • Our Lord, Jesus Christ • The Apostles • The Prophets • The Nations

  5. Cont. • Fasting is known in every religion. It was even known in heathen and primitive religions, and indicates that fasting was known before the dispersal of nations and religions • Fasting precedes every grace • Fasting precedes service: • Christ • The Apostles • Priests • Fasting precedes the sacraments: • Baptism and Chrismation • Eucharist • Unction of the Sick • Priesthood

  6. Subduing the Body • 'But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.' - I Corinthians 9:27 • 'And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ' - Galatians 5:24 • ‘Our lusts are our greater enemies more than the outside ones. What Joseph did when he controlled himself against the temptations of his master’s wife is greater than all that he did when he became the second man in Egypt.” - St. Ambrose • ‘When David did not fight back his enemy, Saul, this was a greater accomplishment than his killing of Goliath the giant.’ - St. John Chrysostom

  7. The Fathers on Fasting • ‘We were expelled from the earthly paradise because we did not fast, therefore, we have to fast to return to the heavenly paradise. Fasting restores to us all the losses due to Adam’s failure to fast, and it reconciles us with God.’ -St. Basil the Great • ‘Fasting is the first step in God’s holy way. It is the reformer of all virtues, the beginning of struggle, the beauty of virginity, the upkeep of chastity, the father of prayer, the source of quietness, the teacher of silence and the announcer of blessings.’ - St. Isaac the Syrian • ‘God honored that weapon, which is fasting. Who can dare to despise it? Since the Giver of the law Himself fasted, how can we, for whom the law was given, not fast?’ -St. Isaac the Syrian

  8. Cont. • ‘This kind is never cast out except by prayer and fasting.’ Therefore, since fasting expels the hostile foes of our salvation in this manner and is so terrible to the enemies of our life, we must cherish and embrace her, not dread her. We must be afraid of drunkenness and gluttony, not of fasting. For she [drunkenness and gluttony] binds our hands behind our backs and surrenders us as slaves and captives to the tyranny of the passions, which resemble a most dangerous mistress. Fasting, however, who finds us as slaves and prisoners, loosens the bonds and delivers us from the tyranny; she restores us to our former freedom.’ - St. John Chrysostom

  9. Cont. • ‘...think of the blessed and marvelous race of monastics… they took flight from the tumult in their midst and they ran quickly toward the peaks of the mountains… and they took fasting as a companion and joint communicant throughout their entire lives. This is why she made them angels from men, but as many as she finds in the cities that submit to her, she elevates to the same height of the wisdom.’ -St. John Chrysostom • ‘One sees this paradox, sackcloth surpassing the reputation of purple raiment. Whereas the purple robe could not prevail, sackcloth did. That which the crown could not promise, ashes achieved. … For drunkenness and gluttony shook the city that was unshakable, and they were about to overthrow it; fasting kept the city upright when it was tottering and about to fall.’ - St. John Chrysostom

  10. Practical advise to fasting • prayer rule • Spiritual reading • Bible reading • Prostrations • eating less over all • self control • TV, movies, music ..etc,.

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