وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Our aim should always be to fast out of love for God.
Out of love, we desire that our souls adhere to Him. We do not allow our bodies to hinder the way of the soul. Therefore, we subdue through fasting to make the body conform with the soul in its work. It is in fasting that we are likely to soar above the materialistic and bodily needs, and live by the soul. To allow the human soul to unite in God's Spirit in His work to enjoy His love and company.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Enjoying God's love and fellowship should be our manner throughout our lives. However, it should not be forgotten, that it is during our times of fasting that we deepen and strengthen our training and preparation for this enjoyment of God for other times of our life..

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Thus, we fast because fasting brings us close to God.
Fasting in part, is a withdrawal which gives us an opportunity for prayer, spiritual reading, and contemplation. Fasting helps one keep vigilant, practice prostration and set the mood for prayer. Fasting is control over the will and a triumph over desires. This is the way to God to lead us to penitence and reconciliation with Him, When we fast we are nourished by “Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4).
Therefore, we fast for the sake of God's love and fellowship. We fast because it helps us shun worldly and materialistic things and to make us ready for eternity and oneness with God.
If fasting is consecrated to God alone, and for the sake of His love, a question then arises:

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Can a person fast but at the same time not consecrate his fast to God?
Yes, they are many who fast, but God has no share in. For instance, someone may fast while far from God. He fasts, yet he does not change, still in weaknesses. A person of high profile or authority may even fast as a customary act, lest he should be embarrassed or for the sake of his reputation. Another may fast purely for bodily reasons, while the soul has no part in his fast.
One may fast to parade his ascetic ability or skill to abstain from food. A person may abstain from food for a while and at the same time indulging in wordily lusts which he cannot abstain from!

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Some think that fasting only is associated with food without God being a party to it.
All their cares while fasting is; How long is the period of abstinence? When shall they eat? How can they lengthen the period of their abstinence? What will they eat? How can they keep themselves away from certain kinds of food? How can they fast for days? It appears as if fasting concerns two parties only: them and their food, or them and the body, without God being party to the fast in any way!! Is this a correct fast?!
Fasting is not a mere a bodily deed. Rather it is communion with God. A fast that does not have God in it is no fast at all.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

We eat and we fast for God.
We eat for God so that our body may gain strength to serve God and perform our duties and responsibilities towards others. It is also for God that we hunger, to subdue the body lest it sin against God, to control and not be controlled bodily desires and lusts so that they may not control our actions. We behave in accordance with the spirit, not the body, for the sake of our love of God, and the fellowship with His Divine Spirit.
Fasting for any other reason, is rejected by God.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III



Erroneous and Rejected Fasts


Not every fast is acceptable, and some are rejected by God. The Bible gives us examples of some of these rejected fasts.
1. Fasting for self-praise. It intentionally revealed and exposed for others to see and praise it. About this type of fast, the Lord said in His Sermon of the Mount, “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matt 6:16-18).
A fast to gain praise from others is not for God who has nothing to do with it. This it is a rejected fast.




2. The proud Pharisee is another example of the unacceptable fast:
The Pharisee stood before God flaunting his virtues and saying: “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” At the same time, he condemns the publican saying, “I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:9-14). That is why he did not leave the temple justified, as was the case of the broken-hearted tax collector.


This example shows us that unless fasting is accompanied with humility and a contrite heart , then it is rejected by God. For without humility fasting is out of self righteous and disdain for others. (Luke 18:9).




3. A fast with a wrong aim is unacceptable.
An example of this fast were the Jews who banded together “and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy” (Acts 23:12,13). Naturally, their fast was a sin. Moreover, we cannot call it a spiritual fast.




4. The sinful fasts during the days of the Prophet Jeremiah:
The Lord did not accept this fast and said to Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. "When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them.” (Jer 14:11,12).
The Lord did not accept their fasts, prayers, and oblation because they lived an evil life and their hearts were not pure before Him.
Thus, fasting without repentance is unacceptable.
God wants a pure heart more than He does a hungry body.
A person's fast is invalid if his heart does not abstain from sins and his tongue from evil words. Even if he gives his body to be burned, it will not profit him. (1 Cor 13:3).




5. Fasting without mercy and charity is unacceptable:
The Lord explained this point to the Prophet Isaiah, saying: “`Why have we fasted,' they say, `and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'
... Indeed you fast for strife and debate ... Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? ...Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--” (Is 58:3-7).
A fast that does not go hand in hand with merciful deeds and a pure heart is unacceptable even if performed with humility and courtesy.




6. Fasting that is not for God is invalid:
Some may fast on doctor’s orders. Another may fast to have a graceful body and good looks,. Both fasts are not performed for God and or spiritual gain. A third person may go on a hunger strike and not for spiritual aim or for God's sake. A fourth may forsake food in distress or despair. Non of these fasts can be considered genuine. Again, we reiterate by saying that any fast which is not for God and spiritual gain, cannot be considered a fast and is not accepted by God.
What then, is an acceptable spiritual fast for God?
It is one where a profound relationship with God is established. It is a fast where you feel God in your life. It is a sacred period, which belongs to God and devoted entirety Him. It is a time when God’s presence is very visible in your behaviour. It is a time with which your relationship with God increases and grows in a spiritual exultation which makes you long to stretch your fast and become endless.
This leads us to examine an important question:
What is the relationship between God and your fast?

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting for self-praise. It intentionally revealed and exposed for others to see and praise it. About this type of fast, the Lord said in His Sermon of the Mount, “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matt 6:16-18).
A fast to gain praise from others is not for God who has nothing to do with it. This it is a rejected fast.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

The proud Pharisee is another example of the unacceptable fast:
The Pharisee stood before God flaunting his virtues and saying: “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” At the same time, he condemns the publican saying, “I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:9-14). That is why he did not leave the temple justified, as was the case of the broken-hearted tax collector.


This example shows us that unless fasting is accompanied with humility and a contrite heart , then it is rejected by God. For without humility fasting is out of self righteous and disdain for others. (Luke 18:9).

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

A fast with a wrong aim is unacceptable.
An example of this fast were the Jews who banded together “and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy” (Acts 23:12,13). Naturally, their fast was a sin. Moreover, we cannot call it a spiritual fast.