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“‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” —Jesus, Matthew 4.4
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” —Jesus, Matthew 6.16-18
“when you fast…” – Jesus, Matthew 6.16
“…will reward you.” – Jesus, Matthew 6.18
History of Fasting
- Moses’s 40-day fast on Mount Sinai
- The Day of Atonement
- David
- Samuel
- Esther
- Prophets
“If any one of the clergy be found to fast on the Lord’s Day, or on the Sabbath day, excepting one only, let him be deprived; but if he be one of the laity, let him be suspended.” —Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
“I fear there are now thousands of Methodists, so called, both in England and in Ireland, who, following the same bad example, have entirely left off fasting; who are so far from fasting twice a week…that they do not fast twice in the month!” —John Wesley
Fasting is one of the most
“Fasting gives birth to prophets, she strengthens the powerful; fasting makes lawgivers wise. She is a safeguard for the soul, a steadfast companion for the body, a weapon for the brave, and a discipline for champions. Fasting repels temptations, anoints for godliness. She is a companion for sobriety, the crafter of a sound mind. In wars she fights bravely, in peace she teaches tranquility.” —St. Basil the Great
Fasting is not eating food.
Fasting as
Fasting
Fasting on Fridays in the Catholic Tradition.
Fasting as
WHY do we fast?
To
To grow in
To amplify our
To stand with the
To offer ourselves to Jesus.
Monday & Thursday in the Hebrew Tradition to Wednesday (day of Jesus’s betrayal) & Friday (day of Jesus’s crucifixion).
“Whole-body hungering for God.” —John Piper
“Body talk.” —Scot McKnight
Fasting is a practice to offer our
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” —Romans 12.1
Body in Greek Soma - your
“Theology of the body.” —Pope John Paul II
Our discipleship to Jesus must take seriously the
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” —1st Corinthians 6.19-20
“In view of God’s mercy.” —Romans 12.1
We fast not to
“Come, follow me.” —Jesus, Luke 18.22