How to Accept the Fast

Continued 👇🏾 ✍🏾How to Accept the Fast a. Preparation of Conscience In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Sabbaths, feasts, and holy days are given a special welcome on the eve through prayer, hymns, teachings, and spiritual gatherings. A similar pattern is found in Jewish practice: At sunset on Friday, the approach of the Sabbath is announced. The people gather, bow toward the rising sun, pray, recite the Ten Commandments, and light candles, saying, “Welcome, Sabbath.” They then share a simple meal and spend the night in praise. In the same way, Qebela marks the period from the end of the Fast of Nineveh until the eve of the Great Fast, during which priests, monks, nuns, and believers make preparations to welcome the fast. The great scholar Abba Dioscorus teaches about the greatness of the Fast of our Lord: “He lived in the wilderness of Corinth for 40 days and 40 nights in order to fast as a man. He was tempted by the devil in three ways so that He might overcome for our sake. By His lordship He defeated the army of the evil one who had been contending for 5,500 years and ruling in darkness.” This reminds us that the fast is not ordinary. It is a divine gift that Christ Himself sanctified through His example. When we fast in this world following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, we prepare so that: 👉🏾to Defeat the enemy 👉🏾to Receive grace, blessings, and spiritual strength b. Spiritual Preparation Before the Fast During this season, our fathers in the monasteries and convents: 👉🏾Prepare offerings and spiritual materials 👉🏾Choose places where they will spend the eight weeks 👉🏾 Prepare prayer books 👉🏾 Plan their time for fasting, prayer, and almsgiving 👉🏾 Meet the faithful to gather candles, incense, raisins, and clothing 👉🏾 Speak with their spiritual children, giving advice and consolation 👉🏾 Encourage confession: “Do not be ashamed to confess your sins” (Sirach 4:26) 👉🏾 Reconcile with those from whom they are estranged 👉🏾 Plan to spend nights in prayer and days in the Divine Liturgy This is the true spirit of preparing for the fast. ✍🏾Misunderstanding of Fasting Today Sadly, in many places, fasting has become associated with feasting, eating rich foods, drinking wine, and indulging in excess actions that contradict the very purpose of fasting. As Saint Peter warns: “Be sober and vigilant, for your enemy the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Excessive celebrations weaken the soul and open doors to temptation. May the Fast Purify Our Bodies and Souls May the fast be for us a source of blessing, spiritual renewal, and victory over the enemy. May the Lord accept our fasting, our prayers, and our repentance. Part 2 Continues ... May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends:https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance