Fast which He Has Chosen

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

About "old" and "new" calendar

April 11 (24)

No Liturgy — no New Testament reading appointed

“Cry aloud, — says the Lord to the holy prophet Isaiah, — spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression". What wrong have they done? “They seek Me daily... they take delight in approaching to God".

Is it a sin? Should they not have done just that? Yes, they should, but they do it wrong. They seek the Lord by fasting alone, without doing good, without justice and love. I am pleased with fasting, says the Lord, but “behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high... Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out into thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him... ”

When this happens, then seeking the Lord and approaching Him will be fruitful; "Then shall thy light break forth at the morning... and thy righteousness shall go before thee: the glory of the Lord shall gather thee up. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry. and He shall say, Here I am... And the Lord shall guide thee continually" [Is. 58:1-11].

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