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SUMMARY:Vigils Reading - Ash Wednesday
DESCRIPTION:WHY WE FAST \nFrom a sermon by St John Chrysostom \n◊◊◊ \nWhy do we fast for forty days? Formerly many believers approached the \nsacraments without any particular preparation\, especially at the time when \nChrist first gave them to us. But when the fathers realized the harm that could \nresult from such neglect\, they took counsel together and decreed that a period of \nforty days of fasting be set aside\, during which the people would meet to pray \nand listen to the word of God. During this Lenten season each of the faithful \nwould undergo a thorough purification by means of prayer\, almsgiving\, fasting\, \nwatching\, repentant tears\, confession\, and every other remedial measure. Then \nwhen they had done all in their power to cleanse their consciences\, they could \napproach the sacraments. \nIt is certain that the fathers did well to use such lenience in their desire to \nestablish us in the habit of fasting. As we know\, we could proclaim a fast \nthroughout the whole year\, and no one would pay any attention. But now\, with a \nset time for fasting of only forty days\, even the most sluggish need no \nexhortation to rouse themselves to undergo it; they accept it as a regular \nobservance and recurring encouragement. \nSo\, when someone asks you why you fast\, you should not answer: because \nof the Passover\, or because of the Cross. Neither of these is the reason for our \nfasting. We fast because of our sins\, since we are preparing to approach the \nsacred mysteries. Moreover\, the Christian Passover is a time for neither fasting \nnor mourning\, but for great joy\, since the Cross destroyed sin and made \nexpiation for the whole world. It reconciled ancient enmities and opened the \ngates of heaven. It made friends of those who had been filled with hatred\, \nrestoring them to the citizenship of heaven. Through the Cross our human \nnature has been set at the right hand of the throne of God\, and we have been \ngranted countless good things besides. Therefore we must not give way to \nmourning or sadness; we must rejoice greatly instead over all these blessings. \nListen to the exultant words of Saint Paul: God forbid that I should boast \nof anything but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And elsewhere he writes: \nGod shows his own love for us because when we were still sinners Christ died for \nour sake. \nSaint John’s message is the same. God loved the world so much\, he \ndeclares\, and then\, passing over every other manifestation of God’s love\, he \ncomes at once to the crucifixion. God loved the world so much that he gave his \nonly Son\, that is\, he gave him up to be crucified\, so that those who believed in \nhim might not perish but might have eternal life. If\, then\, the Cross has its \nfoundation in love and is our glory\, we must not say we mourn because of the \nCross. Far from it. What we have to mourn over is our own sinfulness\, and that \nis why we fast.
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-ash-wednesday-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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