The Wisdom Behind the Nativity Fast
Question:
Why do we fast the Nativity Fast?
Answer:
Every grace that we receive, we prepare for it by fasting, so that we may be in a suitable spiritual state. Thus, all our feasts are preceded by fasting. And our partaking is preceded by fasting.
The prophet Moses fasted forty days on the mountain, to be worthy to receive the Word of God on the two tablets of the Law, and we fast forty days in order to receive God the Word…
The children of Israel, before hearing the Word of God from Mount Sinai, were commanded to fast for three days and not approach their women, so that they might be worthy of this blessing. Likewise, we, in receiving the Word of God who came for our salvation.
The Nativity is the beginning of the wondrous work of salvation. And since man fell through eating from the tree, we abstain from food in order to receive the birth of the Lord… for through fasting we show that we are walking in the way of the Spirit, subjecting the body and its desires to its will…
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – in El-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Fifty-One) 23-12-1977
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