Fishgiving & True Fasting

This year, the Civil Calendar and Church Calendar line up in such a way that the first day of the Nativity Fast (according to the old calendar) coincides with the biggest food-based secular holiday of the year. (Our beloved Orthodox siblings on the new calendar have already been feasting for a couple of weeks.) What to do?

• Accept Mom or Grandma's hospitality. Home cooking is an expression of love, and we're careful not to rebuff the love of our family members, especially those who are not Orthodox (yet!). If you are going to your relative's house try not to gluttonize, but please do not say "Mom, I know you spent 9 hours preparing this feast for me, but I brought a salad." Love in all things.

  
  

• If you're hosting Thanksgiving, make adjustments. In years where this happens some families try to have turkey on Tuesday. (This news comes a little late this year, I know.) On Thanksgiving Day itself it is reasonable to upgrade the fast to a Fish Day and invite friends or family over to enjoy it with you.

  
  

• Be thankful! We remember how the martyrs went willingly and joyfully to their executions; surely we can go joyfully and willingly into this fast, thanking God for the opportunity to give up some foods for His sake.

  
  

• And we can all be thankful that next year the beginning of the Nativity Fast begins on Black Friday. Now that is an example of the Civil and old calendars lining up perfectly!

True Fasting is about much more than food! St. John Chrysostom: "Fasting is a good thing...[but] don’t say to me: “I have fasted for so many days! I have not eaten! I have not drunk wine! I have gone without bathing!” Show me instead that, being wrathful, you became meek; and being cruel, you became compassionate to your fellow man. If you are intoxicated with wrath, to what end do you afflict your flesh? If you are filled with envy and covetousness, what benefit is there in drinking only water?...Will you not give to the poor? Consider who it is that begs of you through the poor man and attend to the dignity of the one who receives. Yes, the poor man receives, but it is God who is the borrower." Read the whole sermon, it will reward you.

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St. Jacob of Alaska Parish is a small Orthodox Christian community in Michigan's Central Upper Peninsula. For now, God has given us the use of an old middle school, and this hosts both our parish and our food pantry. Seeking to be good stewards, we are saving for a building of our own. Will you take part in our our mission? Even a little bit helps. Consider donating online or sending a check to:

St. Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Christian Mission

PO BOX 596

Ishpeming, MI  49849.

St. Jacob's is a 501c3 organization under the auspices of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid America (ROCOR).