On November 28th we
begin the Nativity Fast.
We fast before the
Great Feast of the Nativity in order to prepare ourselves for the celebration
of Our Lord’s birth. As in the case of Great Lent, the Nativity Fast is one of
preparation, during which we focus on the coming of the Savior by fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving.
By fasting, we
“shift our focus” from ourselves to others, spending less time worrying about
what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, and so on in order to use our time
in increased prayer and caring for the poor. We learn through fasting that we
can gain control over things which we sometimes allow to control us—and for
many people, food is a controlling factor. We live in the only society in which
an entire TV network is devoted to food! While fasting from food, however, we
are also challenged to abstain from sin, from gossip, from jealousy, from
anger, and from those other things which, while well within our control, we all
too often allow to control us.
Just as we would
refrain from eating a lot before going to an expensive restaurant for dinner—if
we “ruin our appetite” we will enjoy the restaurant less—so too we fast before
the Nativity in order to more fully feast and celebrate on the Nativity itself.
During the Nativity
Fast, we are called upon to refrain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and olive
oil. There are exceptions to this rule; please consult your Church calendar. At
the same time, we are challenged, within the given framework, to fast to the
best of our ability, and to do so consistently. If we must modify the extent to
which we fast within this framework, it is of course possible, but in every
instance our fasting should be consistent and regular, for Christ does not
present fasting as an option, but as a “must.” In Matthew Christ says, “WHEN
you fast, do not be like the hypocrites,” not “IF you fast” or “IF YOU CHOOSE
to fast.” It is simply part of the Orthodox Christian life!
Finally, however,
it is important to remember that we do not fast in order to loose weight or to
feel better physically (although these are very nice side-effects of our
fasting). We fast for our own spiritual benefit, and for the sake of our inner
life. If we decide not to participate in the fast, we are the ones that will
miss out on the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. In the fast we empty
ourselves, so that God’s grace will have a space in our hearts to heal and form
us. Let
us not reject this great gift and opportunity!
By Fr. Andreas Blom
Source: http://www.stgabrielashland.org/why-do-we-fast-before-nativity/
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