REV.PAWLACK Fasting prepares Orthodox for birth

The Nativity-Christmas fasting season in the Orthodox Christian Church begins with a forty-day fasting period that begins today.
This period is in anticipation of and preparation for the coming of Christ into the world and into our individual lives. This time is given by the church to prepare each of us spiritually, mentally and emotionally to celebrate the Incarnation -- the birth in the flesh -- of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The uniqueness of this Lenten fast (called Advent in some churches) is also shown in its liturgical celebrations.
Commemoration
The world had long awaited Christ and the church services for these forty days of preparation commemorate the patriarchs, the prophets and all who had lived by faith in the savior who was to come and had preached about him long before his coming.
The hymns for the Feast of the Nativity itself are full of the original joyful excitement at the thought of God's appearance on earth. The canticles of the pre-Christmas canon speak directly of "Christ, who has appeared in order to restore life that was perishing, that is, return it to its former state."
In this forty-day Lenten season, Orthodox Christians are called to slow down their lives, to understand and follow the teachings of the church and to prepare for the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
Prayerful preparation
The whole church -- not only individual members -- is asked to acquire a spirit of prayerful preparation, to deepen our spiritual vision, to repent of our sins, to participate regularly in the Holy Mysteries and to reconsider our life in the light of the Orthodox teachings about man.
Today, it's very difficult for us to switch from a so-called normal life to one of fasting and prayer. Historically, it was normal and natural, but we are in a secular society that demeans fasting during this season and instead encourages parties and social gatherings.
In the midst of all the celebrations, gift-giving and get-togethers, the church in this fasting season reminds us to "keep the fast in a godly way, not after the manner of pagan festivals, not after the way of the world, but in the fashion of the world which is above."
The Lenten season is to prepare us to celebrate the feast and the joy that comes after the birth. The birth news is given and then celebrated with joy and happiness.
Twelve days after
In the Orthodox Christian Church, there is no fasting for the twelve days after the Nativity. In our day and age, the secular world seems to have gotten it backward -- celebrate first, and then do nothing! This is one of the more distressing problems of our society today. We live too much for the moment and not enough for life in its fullness, life in faith, life in the reality of the newly born Son of the Most High.
Just as a side reflection, it is rather ironic that on the days after Christmas, no sign of Christmas exists and life goes on as if nothing special happened and pre-New Year's sales are off and running!
To keep the fast, one must indeed strengthen one's faith in God by prayer, fasting, alms-giving, sharing and by relearning to love one another as Christ loves us. The fulfillment of the fast is the celebration of the beginning of our salvation.
XThe Very Rev. Peter Pawlack is pastor of St. John's Orthodox Church in Warren.