FASTING

A Return to Transcendentals: A Return to Goodness

“and when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites,
for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men…”

Matthew 6:16

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret…”

Matthew 6:17-18

LET US RETURN… NOT TO “GOOD” YET PASSING PLEASURES…

…BUT TO FASTING… TO THE TRANSCENDENTALS…

…TO THE SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS, BEAUTY, AND TRUTH.

What does FASTING have to do with the transcendentals?

CREATION

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1:31

test 1

test 2

test 3

THE FALL

The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.
Genesis 3:13

CREATION

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1:31

test 1

test 2

test 3

THE FALL

The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.
Genesis 3:13

CREATION

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1:31

test 1

test 2

test 3

THE FALL

The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.
Genesis 3:13

FASTING in the Word of God

FASTING in the Early Church Fathers and Saints

DIDACHE (c. 80-90)

Of Fast-Days and Prayer

8. Do not keep the same fast-days as the hypocrites. Mondays and Thursdays are their days for fasting, so yours should be Wednesdays and Fridays.

Your prayers, too, should be different from theirs. Pray as the Lord enjoined in His Gospel, thus: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, As in heaven, so on earth; Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the Evil One, For thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.

FASTING in the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Matthew 9:1-8

The Healing of a Paralytic.
1 He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town.
2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
7 He rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.

Mark 2:5-12

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,

7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

8 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—

11 he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

12He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”