👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽What Is #Suba’e?
Part 1
Beloved brethren, seekers of divine wisdom, may the peace and mercy of the Almighty rest upon you. Today, let us turn our minds to the profound mystery of Suba’e, a spiritual discipline rooted in the sacred traditions of the Church and practiced by the faithful as a means of drawing near to their Creator. It is not a mere habit of men, nor an empty custom, but a divine gift—an opportunity for the soul to return to God through prayer, fasting, and repentance.
The Meaning and Significance of Suba’e
The very word Suba’e means “seven”, a number of perfection, sanctified both in word and deed among the people of Israel. The number seven is not arbitrarily chosen, but divinely established as a symbol of completion and wholeness in the sight of God.
Consider the following examples:
In Creation: The Almighty God, after forming the heavens and the earth, rested on the seventh day, consecrating it as a day of completion and sanctification. (Genesis 2:2)
In Worship: The faithful, devoted to prayer, exalt the Lord seven times a day, manifesting the spiritual perfection of this number. (Psalm 118)
Thus, Suba’e is not merely a numerical concept but a spiritual path, a discipline by which man commits himself to prayer and devotion for a specific period—from one appointed day to another—seeking to establish communion with the Almighty.
Suba’e and the Sabbath: A History of Repentance
The roots of Suba’e stretch back to the very beginning of human history. After the fall of Adam, when the gates of paradise were closed to him, the holy angels, in their divine compassion, taught him how to pray. He, in turn, received the divine promise that after five and a half days, the Savior would be born from his offspring, take flesh, and redeem mankind. This prophecy, understood in the mystical sense, signifies the coming of Christ at the appointed time to undo the curse of sin.
The Sabbath and Human Conscience
The Sabbath is not merely a day of rest, but a day of spiritual renewal. When man, in his weakness, sins against his Creator, his conscience strikes him with the pain of guilt. The weight of transgression becomes heavy upon his soul, and he is filled with regret and sorrow.
The first time Adam sinned, he was shaken with fear and hid from the presence of God.
So it is with every human soul: when a person realizes the magnitude of his sin, he is moved to seek mercy, longing to be reconciled with his Maker.
But the Almighty, in His boundless love, has provided a remedy for the soul’s burden. Suba’e is this divine remedy—a path of repentance, where the weakness of the flesh is met with the abundance of God’s grace. Through Suba’e, the sinner lays down his burden at the feet of the Merciful One, seeking His forgiveness and renewing his covenant with Him.
Why Do We Enter Suba’e?
A person does not enter Suba’e for no reason. It is not a mere exercise in discipline, but a purposeful and intentional act. Before beginning Suba’e, one must ask: Why do I enter into this spiritual labor?
There are two principal reasons:
1. To Pray to God
Every soul must have a petition to bring before the throne of grace.
If we enter into Suba’e without a clear purpose, without a longing in our hearts to commune with God, our fasting and prayers will be empty.
Just as Hannah prayed with a specific request before the Lord, and He granted her desire, so too must we approach Suba’e with faithful expectation.
2. To Partake in the Blessings of the Saints
Suba’e is not only an individual practice but a participation in the blessings of those who have walked before us in faith.
The Fast of the Prophets – In remembrance of the struggles and triumphs of the prophets.
The Fast of the Apostles – To share in the grace of those who spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
The Fast of the Migration of the Apostles – Honoring the journeys of those who carried the good news, and participating in the blessing of our Lady, the Mother of God.
Continues 👇🏽