A Word on the Nativity Fast

Pope Shenouda III explains that the purpose of fasting is not merely to abstain from certain kinds of food, but for the fast to be acceptable before God and spiritually fruitful. True fasting means abstaining from what a person desires, while allowing the spirit to rise above the body and not submit to its desires. Therefore, abstaining from food should become a broader training in self-control and in resisting the weaknesses and desires that draw a person away from God.

Spiritual Message

Fasting is a spiritual period during which a person meets with God through prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading. Fasting should not be limited to depriving the body, because deprivation without feeding the spirit may become merely physical exhaustion without spiritual fruit. Therefore, Pope Shenouda emphasizes the need to nourish the spirit through prayer, the Holy Bible, spiritual meetings, service, prostrations, Communion, praises, and hymns.

Educational Lesson

Fasting teaches us to recognize each person’s particular weakness and to train ourselves to resist it, whether it is excessive talking, being concerned with other people’s secrets, constantly talking about oneself, or any other desire that controls a person. He also explains that fasting the tongue and the heart from desires is deeper than merely fasting the mouth from food.

Practical Application

Pope Shenouda calls us to begin the fast with a good beginning and to establish a clear spiritual program that includes prayer, reading, meditation, and the other means of spiritual growth. He also encourages gradually training the body according to one’s ability, so that it learns to be subject to the spirit, while avoiding turning the day of breaking the fast into excessive compensation for what was abstained from during the fast.

He also emphasizes that fasting must be connected with repentance; the fast of the people of Nineveh was accepted when they abandoned evil and injustice and returned to God. Therefore, fasting without repentance does not achieve its spiritual benefit; rather, it should lead a person to change his life. If a person finds that he has not yet repented, he should not abandon the fast, but begin seeking repentance so that his fast may be completed.

At the beginning of the spiritual journey, trials and difficulties may come, but a person should not become discouraged because of them. Instead, he should remain steadfast and increase in prayer, reading, and spiritual training. Pope Shenouda points out that the Lord Jesus Himself was tempted during His fast, and therefore a person should face trials with perseverance and continue in the spiritual path.

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