Today's Mass Readings 081230 (Do not love the world.. / fasting and prayer)

[distracted]

Tuesday (12-30)

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1 John 2:12-17***:

I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. Do not love the world of the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

St. Luke 2:36-40:

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

No one talks much about fasting these days… especially health books (so called)… All nutrition books i’ve ever read warn against fasting but i usually feel better when fasting or semi-fasting…

I know someone who lived to be over 100 and he fasted one day a week…

Anyway… the thing about enticement for the eyes… that sounds like TV

 

[06convert]

What helps one person live to be 120, kills the next person at 47. Nobody knows. I’ll error on the side of God though and fast when the Church recommends.

 

[Reuben_J]

No one talks much about fasting these days… especially health books (so called)… All nutrition books i’ve ever read warn against fasting but i usually feel better when fasting or semi-fasting…

I know someone who lived to be over 100 and he fasted one day a week…

Anyway… the thing about enticement for the eyes… that sounds like TV

The first reading speaks about not to love the things of the world because these do not come from the Father. In fact the world, which is a powerful force today, brings us away from the Father God. Jesus message is one of contradiction to the world. The mark of a Christian who are filled with the Holy Spirit would be to focus completely on God and this involve turning away from the world.

Tall order indeed for a Christian but Jesus would has it no other way. “If you want to follow me take up your cross …”, and that means to leave everything else that obstructs following him.

If we are called to leave the things of the world behind, fasting is one powerful way of countering this massive force. Fortunately the teaching on fasting is not just abstain from food but it can include anything that our body and desire want to indulge in. Good news for Christians who have health problem when getting hungry. We still can fast / abstain from the thing that we like especially those that put the Lord into second place in our lives. Are these TV, gossip, football, Internet, etc., ?

Fasting and prayer can be very strong weapon to ward off the evil one. Very often it is said that what Satan afraid most is prayer. I think this is very logical, for prayer put us within the protecting arms of the Lord. I like this saying, “The Lord is just a prayer away!”.

The readings remind me to fast and pray always and to be wary of the pulls of the world.

Amen.

 

[ricko]

Medical science has shown that fasting has a health benefit. Also found that people who consume fewer calories live longer. So fast away and cut back on your eating.

 

[Reuben_J]

Medical science has shown that fasting has a health benefit. Also found that people who consume fewer calories live longer. So fast away and cut back on your eating.

Praise the Lord.

 

[Reuben_J]

Of course it goes without saying that spiritual fasting is invalid if the motive is for personal health or losing weight. Fasting in itself serves no purpose spiritually. That’s why it must always be accompanied with prayers as some posters rightly pointed out. Other advantagous information therefore serves only as a bonus and knowledge on how to do it safely.

God bless those who have continously done this in their lives.

 

[distracted]

Of course it goes without saying that spiritual fasting is invalid if the motive is for personal health or losing weight. Fasting in itself serves no purpose spiritually. That’s why it must always be accompanied with prayers as some posters rightly pointed out. Other advantagous information therefore serves only as a bonus and knowledge on how to do it safely.

God bless those who have continously done this in their lives.

the body doesn’t know the difference as to motive…

fasting may slow down metabolism, which doesn’t help if tyring to lose wt. but it is healthy nontheless particularly for those who have stopped growing (are not pregnant, etc…)

If people ate only when hungry, they would eat 1/2 what they eat now… and live longer & feel better…

i feel closer to God when fasting…