GOSPEL MESSAGE
In times like this, many of us may be wondering why we need to fast, especially during this pandemic. Some of us may think that fasting is all about suffering, and we have suffered enough during this trying time. Therefore, why should we fast, and more to the point, why should we fast for the Dormition of the Mother of God? Don’t we, typically, have the notion that we only fast when we want something really badly from God? As if this suffering is something that pleases God. That is not the case. Suffering is not what pleases God, but bearing Good fruits is pleasant before the Lord. If that is the case, why do we fast? If it is not for personal gain, why fast in the first place? To answer that let’s look at Moses and why he fasted. In Deuteronomy, Moses fasted for 40 days twice. In both of those instances, he was ascending the mountain, entering into the place where God is, and receiving from God His 10 Commandments. My brothers and sisters, fasting has the same purpose for us as well. This is why St. Gregory of Nyssa likens Moses’ ascent up the mountain to our own Deification, where a Cloud that is God Himself surrounds us. There in God’s presence, He will give us what we need, though it may not be what we want from Him.
Now, onto the topic of fasting itself, we learn, from the Church, what it truly means to fast. When you listen to our Church’s hymnography on fasting, fasting is always joined with charitable deeds and the removal of our passions. In one of our Hymns, we sing, “Everyone who fasts from bread alone is not truly fasting. Our Lord hates such fasts, for it profits not if one does not fast from iniquity.” and again, “Let us love one another, love completes the commandments. There are those who fast from bread and yet are filled with hatred, like those who fast from wine yet kill their brethren secretly.”
So I have covered our reason to fast, but the question remains, why do we fast for the Dormition of the Mother of God? Well, in actuality, there are two reasons why we fast at this time: one is the repose of our mother the Theotokos, and the other being for the Transfiguration of Our Lord. The first that comes to us brings us a great Light and Joy, the Transfiguration, the second brings to us one who will intercede and ask for mercy on our behalf. Many, if not all of us, fall short in light of the Transfiguration; this is why we continue the fast and seek St. Mary’s intercession and her plea for mercy just as the Ninevites fasted, seeking for mercy from the Lord.
Therefore, finally, this gets to the Gospel message of the day, who is given a higher position in your banquet? Seems like a completely different topic, but the purpose of fasting is removing yourself from the place of honor and allowing God to take that place. Our goal is Deification, but we all fall short. We are in need of a constant reminder that God is the One Who sits at the head of the banquet. When we live our lives according to that, then we begin our path towards Deification. Therefore, during this fasting season, seek to make St. John’s words come true for you, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” And when it gets hard, because temptation and suffering will come for all of us, seek out the intercession of our mother, the all-holy Theotokos. She is in constant prayer for the sake of our salvation; all we must do is seek her out.