SOME NOTES ON FASTING

1.The Bible takes fasting for granted as part of religion.

For example, St Luke says that Anna the prophetess did not depart
from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and
day (Luke 2:37). It is normal to associate fasting with prayer and
perhaps too with almsgiving. Christian fasting is meant to be an
adjunct to prayer.

The Apostles also observed fasts. St Paul speaks of his fastings often (2
Corinthians 11:26). The Christians in Antioch fast and pray before
laying hands on Saul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2).

In fasting, the Apostles were carrying on the practices of the Old

Testament. Apart from Moses and Elijah, each of whom fasted for forty
days, we read of the Three Young Men and Daniel who ate a diet of
vegetables and water for ten days (Daniel 1:12). Ezra says, "So I fasted
seven days, mourning and weeping, as Uriel the angel had
commanded me." (2 Esdras 5:20). Esdras 12:50 refers to a diet only of
plants to enable the seer to be pure, in order to see a vision. This is not
the normal motive for Christian fasting, although God may graciously
give a vision in response to fasting, particularly in a case of desperate
need. Judith fasted all the days of her widowhood except the day
before the Sabbath and the Sabbath itself (Judith 8:6).

In the time of Jesus, some Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12).
This was on Thursdays (when Moses was supposed to ascend the
mountain a second time to bring the tablets of the Law) and on
Mondays (when Moses was supposed to descend the mountain again).
The Didache shows that from early times Christians fasted on
Wednesdays and Fridays. These were the watch days of the Christian
soldier. "The Shepherd of Hermas" speaks also of fasting preceding
visions.

2. Communal fasting in Old Testament Times

Perhaps the most obvious public fast was that of the people of Nineveh
in the book of Jonah. By self-punishment of the people - the outward
sign of their inner repentance - God's punishment is averted.

The Jews also kept public liturgical fasts (Zechariah 9:19) . They
brought the ark containing the rolls of the law from the synagogue into
the streets and strewed ashes on it. People appeared in sackcloth and
ashes. Ashes were publicly strewn on the heads of the elders and
judges. It was customary too to preach a homily on the need for inner
fasting. For example, this could be based on a text from Joel, "Rend
your hearts and not your garments and turn again to the Lord your
God." To be a proper fast, no food or drink was to be had from one
sundown till after the next, say twenty-six hours.

The prophets had already seen the dangers of purely outward

repentance. Isaiah chapter 58 is instructive on the need for inward
fasting and almsgiving on such occasions. Our Lord picks up the same
theme in Matthew 6:16-18.

As well as fixed public liturgical fasts, Israel fasted occasionally at

times of national calamity. King Ahab fasted in response to words of
judgement from Elijah (1 Kings 21:27-29). The fast of Esther also is of
this type.

3. Some misunderstandings about Christian fasting

Avoiding meat is nothing to do with on the idea that meat eating is

contrary to God's will. This does not make sense because of the
prominence in our religion of animal sacrifice, "Behold the Lamb of
God." We also read the Lord's words, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." (Acts
10:13). Meat is good in its time and place.

We do not fast because we despise the body. For Platonists the body is
a prison. For Stoics the aim of life is to achieve the conquest of the
passions. Platonism and Stoicism may have influenced Christianity, but
these are not the main motives for Christian fasting. Christianity
believes in the resurrection of the body, not in the escape from the
body. It is important too that "successful" fasting does not lead to
pride. For many lay people, regular periods of fasting in excess of 24
hours may need to be considered carefully with the spiritual father. We
also need to be careful of the idea of acquiring merit with God through
fasting.

Prolonged fasting can be characterised by apathy, irritability and

emotional instability. So it obviously needs to be accompanied by
prayer!

The monks of St Antony's time took only bread, salt and water. They
usually had nothing until three o'clock in the afternoon or later, unless
it was a Saturday or a Sunday or during the Great Fifty Days.
Sometimes they went for over 24 hours without food or drink, but this
was not a normal expectation even for them.

Having said that, I am sure that God blesses us when we fast sincerely,
whatever our level of attainment!
24/3/2002