THE REJECTED FASTING Having spoken of adultery, connected with forsaking God and worshipping idols, as obstacles on the way of enjoying God’s salvation and dwelling in the house of the Lord, the prophet moves to the formality of worship as another obstacle, particularly as fasting and keeping the Sabbath are concerned. 1. A worship of hypocrisy 1-2. 2. The rejected fast 3-5. 3. The accepted fast 6-7. 4. Fruits of the right worship 8-12. 5. Keeping the Sabbath 13-14. 1. A WORSHIP OF HYPOCRISY If following idolatry brought the spirit of corruption and rebellion to the life of people; “under every spreading tree and in every ravine, on mountains and lofty hills,” committing adultery and offering their children as human sacrifices; Yet, what is far more serious, is that they mingled that great evil with the worship of the living God, in order to comfort their own conscious. This is the most dangerous enemy that faces the religious and offends people in the knowledge of God - hypocrisy, covering up evil and corruption, through formalities of worship, without genuine repentance. Now, God instructs the prophet to: “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Is. 58: 1) That is to expose their wounds, so that their conscious would not find peace through worship full of hypocrisy; in the way a physician exposes wounds or hidden ailments in order to heal them. In the New Testament, the Lord Christ sent us His Holy Spirit to “convict the world of sin” (John 16: 8); namely to reveal to the soul in its depths its hidden wounds, and to persuade it to repent, instead of covering up wounds, that would corrupt the whole body. Exposing sins does not imply that God rejects or forsakes His people; but, on the contrary, it is a sign of His love for them; That is why He tells him: “Tell My people... and to the house of Jacob” (Is. 58: 1), without holding back. When He spoke of idols worship, of adultery, or sacrificing their children, God did not instruct His prophet to “raise his voice like a trumpet,” as these are obvious sins. But, speaking of hypocrisy, He demands that; as this is a concealed sin that infiltrates the souls of worshippers, and difficult to discover. That is why when rebuking adulterous and taxcollectors the Lord used to address them individually, without hurting their feelings; yet, with hypocrite leaderships, His words were firm and open. People covered up by following outer appearances, as: a. Public and continuous praying: “Yet, they seek Me daily.” (Is. 58: 2). b. Boasting spiritual intellectual gnosis: “They delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness.” (Is. 58: 2) They are keen on reading the Holy Scripture, and attending meetings, as a matter of habit; or in the way Herod was happy to listen to 7 John the Baptist. c. Showing zeal to practice justice and piety (Is. 58: 2). d. “They take delight in approaching God” (Is. 58: 2); namely pretending to be close to God, worshipping Him and keeping His commandments. 2. REJECTED FAST “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen’? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?” (Is. 58: 3) To that He answered: a. “In fact, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and exploit all your laborers.” (Is. 58: 3) As the Pharisee thought that God finds pleasure in his fasting twice a week (Luke 18: 12), so these people, likewise fast, yet, they do whatever they like, and not what God likes; which is proved by the fact that, contrary to the Law, they did not give their laborers time to rest or to share their fast and worship, but forced them for the sake of their greed and love of getting richer. God does not wish us to fast just for food, without fasting for greed and love of the world, demonstrated in our relationship with others. In other words, we should control our souls together with our bellies. By “pleasure” he probably means, not only concerning material gain, but also fulfilling bodily lusts in place of chasteness. b. “Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.” (Is. 58: 4) Instead of condemning and rebuking oneself on the day he fasts, he enters into a debate with others and condemn them; that is why God will not acknowledge his fast, and his voice will not be heard on high. That was what happened when Ahab, king of Israel and his wife Isabel intended to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite; as Jezebel while planning for his murder, she sent a letter to the elders and nobles to proclaim a fast (1 Kings 21: 12). While fasting man strikes his fellow with the fist of wickedness, in place of presenting works of love. That is why Bishop Yousab El-Abah says, [Do not fast on bread and salt, while eating people’s flesh through judgment and condemnation. Do not claim to be practicing a (clean) fast, when you are actually defiled by all sins.] c. “Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?” (Is. 58: 5) It is well for man to bind his fast with humility, yet if he stops at the outer appearance, it will lose its essence. It is fitting for him to humble himself repenting his sins, and feeling his weaknesses, and not to carry the Pharisee’s countenance, according to the words of the Lord: “When you fast, do not be like hypocrites with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6: 16) 8 3. ACCEPTED FAST a. Offering works of love instead of seeking self-pleasure and exploiting laborers (Is. 58: 3). Fasting is forsaking and crucifying the ego, to let Christ live in us; in order to bear the features of His love and to practice His work, as members of His body. This is fasting in its positive concept: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh” (Is. 58: 6, 7) How beautiful is the expression, “Do not hide yourself from your own flesh.” It is as though who fasts, as he crucifies himself with Christ, he comprehends that the flesh of others is his own; as he loosens the chains, it is as though he loosens his own chains; counting himself chained with those chained (Hebrew 13: 3); imprisoned with every prisoner; hungry, poor, lost, and naked with all those who are. By fasting, man loves others as himself, all being members of the same body of our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught them to break their bread to the hungry, to take in those with no shelter, to clothe the naked, and not to hide themselves from their own flesh and blood. And now, the benefit to the giver (through his giving) is greater than that of the taker1. St. Gregory of Nazianzus Fast is not counted as good in its own nature, but becomes ‘good’ and pleases God if combined with other works. Moreover, fast could be considered - through prevailing circumstances - not only in vain, but also repulsive, according to the words of the Lord: “When you fast, I shall not listen to your prayers2” Abbot Theonas When you hear Isaiah saying, “Break your bread for the hungry,” do not think that fast is enough by itself. Fast controls your soul, yet it does not revive others. Your own humility benefits you if it comforts others. Do you deny yourself? Look at whom you have given what you denied yourself? How many poor got fulfilled by the food, which you denied yourself?3 St Augustine 4. FRUITS OF RIGHT WORSHIP a. Enjoyment of divine light: “Then your light shall break forth like the morning.” (Is. 58: 8) By practicing fast in its positive form, man would enjoy union with the Father, through His Only-Begotten Son, by His Holy Spirit; God, the “True light,” would then shine in Him as his own light. “Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be like the noonday.” (Is. 58: 10) A magnificent portrait of fast, which is combined with giving, through our union with God, the Lover of mankind! If the poor and the afflicted feel in their bitterness, as though they are in darkness, the work of love coming from the heart would be like the 1 On His Father’s Silence, 20. 2 Cassian: Conf. 21:14. 3 On Ps. 43. 9 shining of the sun that scatters the darkness. This light does not spring from the outer appearance of giving, but through the transfiguration of the Lord of glory in the loving heart; as also said by Him: “You are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14, 16) Fast, combined with love, springing from the heart, where the kingdom of Christ is, and demonstrated by practical behavior, will be melded with the fast of the Lord Christ, to get sanctified and accepted by the Father. b. Enjoyment of the well being of the spirit, the soul and the body: “Your healing shall spring forth speedily... The Lord will strengthen your bones. You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Is. 58: 8, 11) What are these strengthened bones but the well-being of the soul, that enjoys (bones) of faith, which supports the whole life of man! It is scientifically proved that fast, combined with a period of abstention, and refraining from fat, benefits the body, as well as the soul, which submits humbly to God, who helps it to abide and grow in faith, to set, out of it, His paradise whose waters do not fail. c. Enjoyment of God as the Leader of the soul, and the Source of its inner glory and righteousness: “Your righteousness shall go before you. The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard... The Lord will guide you continually.” (Is. 58: 8, 11) d. Responding to prayers: “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer. You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.” (Is. 58: 9) As long as we, in our fast, concern ourselves, not with the outer appearance, but with opening our hearts to God, through a sanctified life, God will find pleasure in that fast, proclaimed by His response to our prayers. Do you want to raise your prayer to God? Provide it with two wings: almsgiving and fast1. St. Augustine God promptly responds to my prayer because I do not seek worldly happiness, goodies, health, victory over enemies, wealth, or positions2. St. Augustine e. A condition of inner satisfaction: “He will satisfy your soul in draught.” (Is. 58: 11) On our own, we are dry and barren, but as we, in love, satisfy the hungry, God will satisfy us, despite our limitations. f. Building others: “Those from among you shall build the old waste places. You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to dwell in.” (Is. 58: 12) When we stretch our hands in God, to do little things, like material giving or comforting the sorrowful etc. He grants us what is far greater, to help building the inner life of others, as a holy dwelling place for the Lord. 1 Ibid. 2 Ibid, 138. 10 5. KEEPING THE SABBATH After presenting a living portrait of the right fast, He revealed to us how to keep the Sabbath in its true spiritual concept, being a spiritual rest in the Lord, requesting us to: a. “If you turn away your foot from... doing your pleasure on My holy day.” (Is. 58: 13) We should refrain from doing our pleasure on God’s holy day, to practice the sanctified life. b. “And call the Sabbath a delight. The holy day of the Lord honorable.” (Is. 58: 13) The Sabbath is thus, not a deprivation, but inner satisfaction and joy; through which the Lord will cause us to ride, as though on the high hills of the earth, to soar in the heavenlies, and will feed us from the Manna of the eternal heritage (Is. 58: 14).
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