1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,480 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,200 Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,080 mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the light of the world 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,840 and the life of all. Give us wisdom by Your law and 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:16,840 enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge. 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,920 Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,400 obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,720 every hour. O You who enlightens the 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,880 rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,720 Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,080 divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,800 and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen. 13 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:06,670 And the Church has called her children to enter their 14 00:01:06,670 --> 00:01:12,030 wilderness, to walk away from the hustle and the bustle of the 15 00:01:12,030 --> 00:01:17,350 world and to go into solitude in fasting, in prayer, in 16 00:01:17,350 --> 00:01:21,590 meditation, and reading the Holy Scriptures, reading the lives 17 00:01:21,590 --> 00:01:25,310 and the biography of the holy Saints of our Lord, and 18 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,040 attending church, partaking in the Vespas, the prayers and the 19 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,080 Eucharistic service. And we do this because the 20 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,400 scriptures have commanded and the scriptures do teach that we 21 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,960 need to fast. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 22 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,400 15, I believe when you fast, that means you will fast. 23 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:54,320 Jesus told his disciples that one way of overcoming evil and 24 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,640 his force is to pray and fast, fast and pray. 25 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,440 Saint Paul writes to the husbands and wives that during 26 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:09,440 Lent, during fasting, during fasting, they should separate. 27 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,640 But if there's any temptation and there is the equality of 28 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,000 desire, they might they can come back together one more time. 29 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,400 The apostles fasted and the church for 2025 years is 30 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,480 teaching that we should fast. And most importantly, the Lent 31 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:34,440 or the fast that our Jesus established while on earth, He 32 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,520 went into, into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, the 33 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,680 deceiver, and he was tempted, but he fasted. 34 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,840 What I'd like to do these weeks, these coming weeks, is to talk 35 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:52,120 about Lent, about fasting, and God willing, those who've never 36 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,560 fasted, who frown upon, upon fasting, that the Lord will 37 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,240 touch their heart, the Spirit will open their minds and their 38 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,080 hearts and they will offer the land, offer the fast. 39 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:09,800 Isaiah chapter 58, verses 6 to 11 is how we should fast. 40 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,680 So the title is When you fast. So Jesus said when you fast, we 41 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,000 are fasting now, but how do I fast? 42 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,400 You see, Saint John Chrysostom writes that fasting is a 43 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,040 medicine. Fasting is a tool, is a weapon, 44 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,840 is an armor. But if we don't know how to use 45 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,120 that, it could cause more damage, more grief. 46 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,800 When we don't know how to use our medication, we can cause 47 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,520 ourselves severe illness or death, overdose. 48 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:45,360 So fasting is a gift, is a tool, is a gracious provision of the 49 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,200 Lord that he has established and given us and and commanded us 50 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,320 and set us to do. But we need to know how we 51 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,320 should fast. In Isaiah chapter 58, we'll read 52 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,400 from verses 6 to 11. I'm sorry. 53 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:07,280 We'll go from verse one and see that the Lord is commanding 54 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,960 this. Now some say Jesus has commanded 55 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,800 that when we fast, when we give arms, we should not blow horns 56 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:20,279 and we should not do them before men so that we may be seen. 57 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:26,000 So why is the church in the calendar or from the pulpit 58 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,120 calling out that there is a fast? 59 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,320 Well, here it is. Here's your here's your your 60 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,880 answer. Isaiah 58 verse one cry aloud, 61 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,320 spare not. He's telling Isaiah to cry 62 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,720 aloud. So the church cries aloud. 63 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:47,560 And that's why the church reminds, encourages, commands, 64 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,720 instructs her children that it is time for Lent. 65 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,000 It is that time of the year and not only during Lent. 66 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:02,280 Fasting can be offered to God at any time, any day, any week, any 67 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:06,200 month. But most importantly, the fast, 68 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:11,560 the great fast our Lord went through and and established the 69 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:16,920 church has canonized that every children, every child of the 70 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,360 Church, every son and daughter of the church must observe this 71 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,840 fast. If not, they need to be absolved 72 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,120 by the Church, not just Lord. I'm sorry I didn't do it. 73 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,920 No, they need to be absolved by the church. 74 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,080 And I promise during these weeks we'll talk about the proven 75 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,880 solution as well. Cry aloud. 76 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,200 See, God didn't say go and whisper to each one. 77 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,000 And you know, be careful that they don't. 78 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,520 It doesn't come out as though you're telling people to fast. 79 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,360 No, cry aloud. Spare not lift up your voice 80 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,000 like a trumpet, loud. Tell my people their 81 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,520 transgressions. So every priest has a microphone 82 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:51,360 on. You know we've got those 83 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,880 earpiece microphones, right? This is our trumpet last Sunday. 84 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:03,280 Every priest, every Bishop, Archbishop, His Holiness from 85 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,240 the pulpit cried out to the children of the church. 86 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:11,840 It is now Lent time. We are going to fast, offer a 87 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:19,160 fast and why do we fast? This is 123 tells us that how 88 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,400 our fast should be and the reason why we are offering our 89 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,760 fast. Number one, why Lift up your 90 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,080 voice like a trumpet. Tell my people their 91 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,040 transgressions and the House of Jacob their sins. 92 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,640 Because of our transgressions and our sins. 93 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,080 Our evil and sins. That's why we fast. 94 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,000 Sorry, What were you saying? Yeah, you're right. 95 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,920 So that means we should be fasting more often. 96 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:47,160 Yeah, I mean to that because of our sins and transgressions. 97 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:55,680 Yet they seek me daily. So we need to seek the Lord 98 00:06:55,840 --> 00:06:59,160 during our Lent. That is one reason that we need 99 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,920 to fast through fasting. We are seeking God. 100 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,760 We are seeking God's righteousness, God's judgement, 101 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,880 God's ways. Yet they seek me daily and 102 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,640 delight to know my ways. We want to know the ways of the 103 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,680 Lord. That's why you listen to these 104 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,840 podcasts. That's why you listen to sermons 105 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,680 that are posted. You go to church, you go to 106 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,400 Bible studies because you know want to know the ways, you want 107 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,440 to learn the ways and the judgments of God. 108 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,520 As a nation that did righteousness and did not 109 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:37,040 forsake the ordinance of their God, we strive. 110 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:43,000 We strive to become righteous, to become a nation that will not 111 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,560 forsake the commandments of God. We want to draw near to God. 112 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,280 That's why we are fasting, drawing near to God. 113 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,360 They ask of me the ordinance of justice. 114 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,600 They take delight in approaching God. 115 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,960 So we want to know God's righteous judgement and we want 116 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,600 to approach God to be healed by him, to be connected to him, to 117 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,600 be connected to the source of life, the source of forgiveness 118 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:14,520 and compassion and mercy and grace and love and strength. 119 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,960 That's why we are fasting, because you know why we have 120 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,360 forfeited those throughout disobedience to the Lord. 121 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:28,400 You know, Jesus said to Satan, it is not by food alone that God 122 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,080 may and may live, but but what proceeds from the mouth of God? 123 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,360 Go back to what Adam and Eve did. 124 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,760 God commanded them not to eat. There's the word of God, but 125 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,600 they were disobedient and they died spiritually. 126 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:45,480 Disobedience is when we do not adhere to God's commandments, to 127 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,520 God's voice and words. Then we've distant ourselves 128 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,440 from the source of light, which is life, which is God Himself, 129 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:58,680 and we're spiritually dead. Why have we fasted, they say, 130 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,480 and you have not seen. Why have we afflicted our souls? 131 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:07,080 And yet, and you take no notice. There it is. 132 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,880 These people, the Israelites, were fasting, but obviously it 133 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,440 was to no effect. Going back to what Saint John 134 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,520 Chrysostom says and writes in his homily, fasting is a 135 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,960 medicine that needs to be taken according to the prescription of 136 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,440 he who has prescribed it, which is Jesus Christ our Lord, Praise 137 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:31,320 and glory be to His name. How should we fast for God to be 138 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,720 pleased? How should we fast? 139 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,920 How are we to offer our fast during this time of land and 140 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:39,480 this is now? You need to be careful. 141 00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:43,440 Stop your washing of the dishes, stop your vacuuming, Pull to one 142 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,840 side and listen. This is how we should offer our 143 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:52,040 fast so that it appeases God. When it appeases God, it doesn't 144 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,080 exalt God and magnify God. No, He's exalted. 145 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,120 He's magnified. When it appeases Him, He is 146 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,440 appeased. And then He will have mercy upon 147 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,320 us and He will forgive our sins and He will strengthen us, and 148 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:08,560 He will help us to get rid of all the addictions, the 149 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:14,840 addictions, the demons, the demons that are ruling our life, 150 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,840 our minds, our hearts, and our desires and our will. 151 00:10:23,610 --> 00:10:26,730 We have fasted, they say, and you have not seen. 152 00:10:27,370 --> 00:10:30,850 Why have we afflicted our souls? And you take no notice. 153 00:10:31,530 --> 00:10:36,930 In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure and 154 00:10:36,930 --> 00:10:41,410 exploit all laborers in the day of your fasting. 155 00:10:41,890 --> 00:10:44,370 This is what you're doing. You're doing your own will. 156 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:51,960 You're using your free will that I gave you in a defilement way 157 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,720 and in a defilement matter, as opposed to offering it to God as 158 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,280 a sweet odor of instance. Your free will, you do what you 159 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:04,160 please during your fast. You're still cussing, you're 160 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,920 still on that porn site, you're still watching those those 161 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,440 glamorous videos. You're still posting on social 162 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,040 media to, to glamorize yourself to, to parade yourself. 163 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,520 You're still posting yourself. You know your, your songs of, 164 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:22,480 of, of cussing and, and, and, and those songs that are 165 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,920 inappropriate for man to see. You're still posting videos that 166 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,360 are just irrelevant, just useless. 167 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,840 You're still hating. You continue to hate. 168 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:37,760 You continue to quarrel. You continue to to, you know, 169 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,600 stop yourself from showing love and grace and mercy to others. 170 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,840 That's what you're doing during your land. 171 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:49,040 That's why I'm not appeased. We need to know what God wants 172 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:54,200 from us, what God has requested and commanded us to do in order 173 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,160 to do it during our Lent. Not only during Lent, but beyond 174 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,520 that. Beloved, in fact, the day of the 175 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,400 fast, you find your pleasure and exploit all your labourers. 176 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,080 Indeed, you fast for strife and debate and to strike with the 177 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,000 first of wickedness. I want to go back. 178 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:17,000 You exploit all your labourers, so those who have business and 179 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,560 those who have employees don't exploit them, at least during 180 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,000 this. Let if you're fasting and you're 181 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:28,560 still duping your employees and you're harsh and you're not kind 182 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,600 to them, you're not merciful to them and you're actually 183 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,480 deceiting and you're defrauding them. 184 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,880 Well, let me tell you my dear brother and sister, your fast is 185 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,200 null and void before God. The Scripture is talking, not 186 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,840 Jenna, that's picture Scripture is talking indeed. 187 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:50,160 You fast for strife and debate and to strike with the first of 188 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:56,520 wickedness, enmity, posting derogative posts against one 189 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,560 another, always trying to bring down one another. 190 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,560 Don't have the heart, the humility, the love of Christ in 191 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,920 our heart to walk up to someone who is, who is. 192 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,680 Maybe you know, you know, 'cause me a bit of grief to say You 193 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:13,760 know what my brother, I want to forgive you and not having the 194 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,360 courage and the love of Christ to go up to someone and say I'm 195 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:17,960 sorry. What for what I said and what I 196 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,120 did. I'm sorry. 197 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,240 You're right. I couldn't see myself. 198 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:26,240 Thank you for for revealing to me my inner person. 199 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,400 I couldn't see it because sometimes Satan covers the mind, 200 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,160 the eyes and the the conscience Even so that I can't even be 201 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,360 attentive and to change. Thank you for that. 202 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:42,200 But constantly debating and to strike with the fist of 203 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:46,320 wickedness again, to hurt someone, whether it's physical, 204 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:52,960 whether it's financial, whether it's emotional, psychological, 205 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,280 constantly wanting to perform wickedness. 206 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:02,520 And you will not fast as you do do this day to make your voice 207 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,480 heard on high, to always be known, to always be seen. 208 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:11,440 No, no, no, there is no exaltation during fasting. 209 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:17,680 Beloved Christ, praise and glory be to His name when he was 210 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:20,120 captured. You know the Fathers say that 211 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,280 from the time Christ was captured, He was known to be 212 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,200 dead. That's why when you count on the 213 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,560 third day, he rose. That's how some of the fathers 214 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,480 are counting the third day that Jesus was resurrected. 215 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,880 Like a sheave to the Shearer. He did not raise his voice. 216 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,920 He did not cry out. No, humble yourself, you know, 217 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:45,040 maybe, maybe be quiet on the social media during this time 218 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,560 of, of, of Lent. You don't need to show me what 219 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,520 you're doing at school, you know, or at school doing my 220 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,040 maths. Thank you. 221 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,440 God bless you. What do I need to know? 222 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,080 Why do I need to tell me something that is, that is 223 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:05,280 profitable for me? You know, John chapter 3, verse 224 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,120 16 for God. So love the world. 225 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,000 God loves you. Well, thank you for that. 226 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,760 Maybe we should be quiet and not be seen on social media during 227 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,280 Lent. I'm not saying go and delete 228 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,360 your Facebook and no, no, no, no, just be just just let's just 229 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,000 start focusing. Not, you know, let's go back, 230 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,160 not even posting scripture for Iraq. 231 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,560 Post it for yourself, in your heart, in your mind. 232 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,240 Live it. Live it and be a living example 233 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,240 of that Scripture, not a post on Instagram or Twitter. 234 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,040 Do people still use Twitter, Steve? 235 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:36,880 They do. X. 236 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,080 Oh, sorry, X. All right. 237 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,600 No, no, let's be quiet. You know, it says to make your 238 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,640 voice heard on high. No, I don't want to be heard. 239 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,520 I don't want to be seen unless it's something that is very 240 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:52,560 important, that is to glorify God, to glorify God. 241 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:56,160 But first I must live it. First I must experience it. 242 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,560 Indeed, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the 243 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,240 feast of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this 244 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,200 day to make your voice heard on high. 245 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,400 Is this the fast that I have chosen? 246 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,520 Now, God speaking, is this the fast that I have chosen? 247 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,120 A day for man to afflict his soul. 248 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:24,160 I don't like this version, but in any case, we'll keep going. 249 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,480 A day for a man to afflict his soul. 250 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,280 Is it to bow down? OK, I'm sorry. 251 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,320 You know, it should be. This is the fast that I have 252 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,440 chosen. This is the fast it says. 253 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,160 Is it a fast that I have chosen? No, no, no. 254 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,520 This is a fast that I have chosen, says God. 255 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,480 A day for a man to afflict his soul. 256 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,560 Humility. Humble yourself. 257 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:59,000 How do you humble your soul when your body is so active into, you 258 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,920 know, fulfilling the desires, the passions? 259 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,680 How do you do that? No, by fasting. 260 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:10,119 You take control of your body. You discipline the body of the 261 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:16,319 desires of the flesh so that the soul will be alive, so that your 262 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:21,200 soul will be afflicted in mourning, because your body now 263 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:28,000 realizes that this, what I do, how I conduct myself, is an 264 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,320 abomination to the Lord. Your soul will start grieving. 265 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,840 You know when you grieve with the soul, that's when the 266 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:39,240 repentance come, Not only physically, when you're grieve 267 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,480 with the soul, that's when repentance come. 268 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,400 That's the grieve that is hitting home to move you because 269 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,520 the soul is the life. The soul continues. 270 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:56,240 It's the life, and when you grieve the soul, then the life 271 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,960 comes back. Then the body starts being 272 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,680 obedient to the soul, and how to the nourishment of the spiritual 273 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,360 food, obedient to the Word of God, the precepts of God. 274 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,640 This is the fast that I have chosen a day for a man to 275 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,080 afflict his soul. It is to bow down his head like 276 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:23,160 I bull rush or a a walking a Canyon walking cane Kabbalah who 277 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,280 hangs their heads down those who are shame. 278 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:31,520 You know I hung my head in shame to be shame, to be ashamed of 279 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:37,040 what we have done, to truly be moved and be shamed to the point 280 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:42,320 where Lord I am not worthy to lift up my face to you, but have 281 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:46,160 mercy on me. A Sinner like the Sinner who 282 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:51,600 approached the temple of God, beat his breast, didn't lift up 283 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,320 his face his head, beat his breast and said, Lord have mercy 284 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,920 on me. A Sinner, That's how we fast 285 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:02,760 going out and doing your thing, going to restaurants and having 286 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,320 a drink, having a hookah and enjoying yourself. 287 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,840 Ha, ha, ha, ha. Joking around a little bit of, 288 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,000 you know, the, the the techno or the I'm all the music in the 289 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,840 background. That's not being ashamed. 290 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,680 When you're ashamed, you lock yourself in your room, right 291 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,240 Until someone comes and says it's OK, it's OK, don't worry. 292 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,800 Yeah, but I didn't want to do, you know, when the kids do 293 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,400 something wrong, they they'll go into the room and say it's OK. 294 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,760 Yeah, but I didn't do that. I shouldn't have done that. 295 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,240 That's OK. See, we learn from children 296 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:35,720 that's hanging your your head down like a walking stick, being 297 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:39,000 ashamed of what we've done. Like the prodigal son, when he 298 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,800 returned, he didn't return and demand forgiveness. 299 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:43,840 Just pray and God will forgive you. 300 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,080 I mean, God does forgive, but how do you pray? 301 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,880 The medicine of forgiveness, of repentance, If you don't use it 302 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:53,480 right, it will cause you more grief. 303 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:55,280 But you know what? Well, I did it. 304 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,000 So, yeah, just forgive me. You know? 305 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,920 No, you come with a contrite spirit. 306 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:04,160 You. You hang your head and say, 307 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,280 Father, I have sinned before heaven and earth and before you. 308 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,920 Forgive me, for I am not worthy. I am not worthy. 309 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,120 You know, I saw a video of someone who's saying, you know, 310 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:16,720 these, these philosophies, I don't know. 311 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,720 They can't, it can't be spiritual talk. 312 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:20,880 It's not, it's not inspired by the Holy Spirit. 313 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,040 They claim it is, but it's not. It's an evil spirit. 314 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,920 It's an evil spirit. If you keep saying and claim 315 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:27,760 that you're a Sinner, it means Jesus failed. 316 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,600 Are you serious? When we sin, it's not God 317 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,720 causing us to sin so he didn't fail. 318 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,760 When we sin, it is us. We are the ones that are 319 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,720 disobedient. And what did Jesus say? 320 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,520 Blessed are those who mourn. Mourn for what? 321 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,240 For their grandfather, For their great great grandfather? 322 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,200 For their dog pooey who died, who passed on? 323 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:53,520 No mourning, remorse, blessed are they, Jesus said St. 324 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:57,040 James writes if you claim that you're not a Sinner, you're a 325 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:58,720 liar. If you say that I do not sin, 326 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,200 you're a liar. There's a sin. 327 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,560 So don't listen to these, you know, as I said, everyone, you 328 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,360 know, it's, it's free for all. Now, you know, go live and get 329 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:11,680 the clicks and please prescribe and write a comment and like so 330 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:13,960 that you can start making money, right? 331 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,200 Don't be fazed by these. Don't be drawn by these. 332 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,520 Just switch in the name of Jesus Christ block. 333 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,640 I don't want these types of ridiculous preaching. 334 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:28,560 Oh, but he's saying Jesus, Sophie, if I if I start, you 335 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:33,480 know, you know, who was it? Who's saying just as God says, 336 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,400 make these stones to be bred. Where was that? 337 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,920 Where was that? What was that song, Steven, when 338 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,280 they all sang because there was famine. 339 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,600 We are the world rivals for Ethiopia. 340 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:47,520 Who was it? Who was it? 341 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,320 Yeah, sorry. No, Billy. 342 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,880 No, not Billy Joel. That's the anyway, anyway, he 343 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,760 said and as God said, make this staunch to be to turn to bread. 344 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,400 Satan said that, you fool. God didn't say that. 345 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,680 So your God is Satan. Yes, it is the God of Hollywood. 346 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:12,320 The evil your God is Satan, because Satan was tempting Jesus 347 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,520 and said turn these stones into bread. 348 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,320 God didn't say that. No. 349 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,400 And you see, you see, just because we're raising money, 350 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,360 it's a charitable work. Oh, these people are so good 351 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:23,360 people. They're evil. 352 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,320 They're evil people. And you see what's happening 353 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:27,640 now? I don't want to go into that 354 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,760 now. They're evil people, right? 355 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,400 Just because you do charity doesn't mean you're a Christian. 356 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:37,000 I've always said you're born in a garage doesn't make you a car 357 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,320 right. Not all who call me Lord Lord 358 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:40,680 will enter the Kingdom of heaven. 359 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:46,000 So just because someone you know sings or mentions the word God 360 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,160 doesn't mean that person is a God fearing God loving person. 361 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:51,800 And if they are well they got it wrong. 362 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,840 God didn't say turn these stones into bread. 363 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:04,440 Satan said to bow down that his head like a bulrush and to 364 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,320 spread out sackcloth and ashes, just like the king of Nineveh. 365 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:15,120 He took off his crown and his splendid clothing and he sat on 366 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:18,400 sackcloth, meaning, Oh my, where am I? 367 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,880 The depth of darkness during Lent. 368 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,240 We can't be who high in during Lent. 369 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,720 You know, one person said, can I have a glass of wine during 370 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:30,360 Lent? No. 371 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,720 Why we drink wine. Well, no, that's the blood of 372 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,480 Christ. By the way, we taste wine, yes, 373 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:38,000 but we believe it's the blood of Christ. 374 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,200 And secondly, why do you want to drink a glass? 375 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,240 You know, wine makes man's heart glad. 376 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,240 Well, you're not supposed to be glad during Lent. 377 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:53,560 It's a contrite spirit. And to spread out sackcloth and 378 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,920 ashes. Would you call this fast an 379 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,760 acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast that I have 380 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:09,800 chosen to lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy 381 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:13,800 burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every 382 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,080 yoke? Is it not to share your bread 383 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,880 with Hungary and that you bring to your house a poor who are 384 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,760 cast out when you see the naked, that you cover them? 385 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,440 Jesus. See, Jesus said these things, 386 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,040 didn't he when you saw me, Nate? Well, Lord, when did we see you 387 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:32,400 naked? We saw you hungry. 388 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:34,440 He's quoting from here. So fasting. 389 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,560 And what is this? What is this pertaining to? 390 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,800 Fasting? So don't dare tell me that we 391 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,280 don't need to fast. And as I said, I'll, I'll, I'll, 392 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,560 I'll put the challenge on on double edged sword. 393 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,240 Find me in the scripture where it says do not fast. 394 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:52,720 I'll break my fast when you when you tell me immediately. 395 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:56,080 And as I said in my English service, an English service last 396 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,920 Sunday, I'll take a selfie at double double with a double 397 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,400 double in my hand. But there's no such thing. 398 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,840 Don't be deceived. You don't want to fast. 399 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,240 Don't take people down. You're going down. 400 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:11,280 Don't take people down with you. When you see the naked that you 401 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:15,360 cover him and you not hide yourself from your own flesh, 402 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:22,000 then your light shall break forth like the morning break. 403 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:27,640 All the bondage, whatever you have been captured by, whatever 404 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,000 you've caught others by, let it go. 405 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:34,080 Let bygones be bygones. Pick up the phone during Lent 406 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,240 and say, listen, dear sister, dear brother, let me talk to 407 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,880 you. You know, I've never mentioned 408 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,680 this, but I will. You know, unfortunately, there 409 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,440 comes a time where families are broken, where there is divorces. 410 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,680 Unfortunately, it grieves the church divorce. 411 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,920 Why do you have to be enemies? Why? 412 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:58,520 Oh, oh, husband, for 15 years, your wife was your wife was 413 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:03,000 your, your pride and your, your, your, you know, the crown of 414 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,640 your head. And then when you divorce, you 415 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,200 want to tell the world that your bride, your wife was a a no good 416 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:09,640 person. Why do that? 417 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,680 Why? That happens in Assyrians a lot. 418 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,920 That happens in Assyrians a lot. Why become enemies? 419 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,240 Pick up the phone and say, listen, we've separated. 420 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,240 OK, fine, let's go. OK, we've divorced. 421 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:21,000 The kids are happy. Thank God for that. 422 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:25,280 You know, let's just, let's just be humane, let's be humane. 423 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,760 Let's not be enemies. Let's just pray for one another. 424 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,880 Let's just continue to pray. Maybe the Lord will change our 425 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,160 minds and change our hearts. But as soon as there is a 426 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,840 separation, my beloved sisters, as soon as there is a 427 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,680 separation, the posts start coming up. 428 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,880 What you're parading that you're now separated. 429 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,520 You're now ready to be married because you don't understand 430 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,920 what marriage is during Lent. These are the the evil deeds 431 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:58,600 that we need to do away with. Do away with friendship. 432 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,240 Brothers. Sisters, let it go. 433 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,000 Pick up the phone, brother. Honey, why have we? 434 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,960 Why have we spoken for the past two years? 435 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:11,240 What happened? We shared the same womb. 436 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,160 We share the same womb. All right. 437 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,000 I'm sorry if I've done something wrong. 438 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:19,440 Yes, it is me. Be humble yourself to admit 439 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,120 fault, guilt. It is me. 440 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:24,560 Pray for me, brother. But please, I need you. 441 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,800 I need your love. This is not just a a brotherly 442 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,840 Christian brotherly love. This is a blood. 443 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,160 This is a womb established brotherly love. 444 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:40,400 We have vice versa, friends, relatives, neighbors, neighbors. 445 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,840 You don't talk to your neighbor because one day she threw a a 446 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,280 cigarette butt over the over the forgive. 447 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,120 Forgive this old dream. Now you may be chuckling at 448 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:54,920 this, but this is what God is saying. 449 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:59,480 You have court cases, you have lawsuits because your brother 450 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,680 paid you $10 less from the estate of your father. 451 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:07,640 Forget it, go and forgive because at the end of the day 452 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,000 you can get your 10 million and he will get his $10. 453 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,000 Vice versa at the end of the day you know where you'll take that, 454 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:18,320 that 6 foot grave that's all that's where we end up, that's 455 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,320 where we end up but beyond that is to face the Lord. 456 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:27,080 The Lord someone said to you Boo, well forget it. 457 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,160 That person was didn't know what he was saying. 458 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:31,880 That's what God is saying. That's how we are. 459 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:36,920 We are to fast beloved, bringing strangers into our house. 460 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,880 Yes, sometimes it's not realistic. 461 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,840 You don't know if that stranger is a murderer. 462 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,240 You don't know you're not going to go first do a credit check on 463 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,080 or what is it? The police check background 464 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,880 check and say, oh, OK, no, well, how about just picking up 465 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,560 someone off the street, picking up someone off the street who's 466 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,600 sitting, who's sleeping in the streets and say, listen, 467 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,480 brother, sister, today I'm going to set you up. 468 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:05,200 I'm going to book you in a, in a motel with shelter so you can 469 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,760 have a shower, you can have a, a bed to sleeping for five days, 470 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:10,560 for two days, for three days, whatever. 471 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,960 I'll bring you some food, change of clothes, some toiletries so 472 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,800 that you can have a shower and refresh yourself this in the 473 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,200 name of Jesus Christ and don't go and blow horns. 474 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,960 And I did this and I did that. Let me close up with this and I 475 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:27,600 think I've shared it with you. We did this as a, as a group, as 476 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,960 a, as brothers and sisters. We went out and fed the 477 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:31,480 homeless. And I'm not, you know, this is 478 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:33,200 not not bragging. God knows my heart. 479 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,200 So this man come up to us and said, OK, you gave me food, but 480 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:38,480 where am I going to sleep tonight? 481 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,840 We said, well, you know what? Yeah, sorry to hear that and 482 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:49,360 just drove off. The late Subdeacon Sean Toma, 483 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:55,440 God rest his soul, looked at me while the driver was driving 484 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:56,440 away. We were in a bus. 485 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:00,440 He said, Robbie, this person just reached out to us for 486 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:07,800 shelter and Jesus said I was a stranger and you took me in. 487 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:12,000 And when they said, when he said, when you do for one of 488 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,280 these divines, we turn around and we went and found that 489 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,120 person and we booked him in our motel. 490 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,640 It was difficult, but we didn't. Glory to God, please don't for 491 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,560 one second think that this is this is out of pride. 492 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,560 It's just an example. It's just an example, right? 493 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,000 That's how we need to be during our land, beloved, and even 494 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,360 beyond that. But Christ teaches us in Matthew 495 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:39,960 2531 to 46 when you fast, He also gives us some commandments. 496 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,120 And we're going to talk about this next week. 497 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:43,880 And during these episodes, we're going to talk about the 498 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,160 absolution. So maybe some of you out there 499 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,320 would like to be absolved officially and properly, 500 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:53,680 doctrinally, liturgically, according to the tradition and 501 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:55,960 the canons of the law. And we'll talk about that during 502 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,920 the end of Lent. So may the Lord accept your 503 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:02,240 prayers and your supplication and your fasting continue. 504 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:05,880 The enemy will intensify, but you have victory with Jesus 505 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:07,360 Christ. Praise and glory be to His name 506 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,000 now and at all times and forever. 507 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:39,150 Amen. We hope you enjoyed this week's 508 00:31:39,150 --> 00:31:41,470 message. Please don't forget to rate and 509 00:31:41,470 --> 00:31:44,230 review this podcast and share with your friends and family. 510 00:31:44,470 --> 00:31:47,950 For any future topic suggestions or to give us detailed feedback, 511 00:31:48,190 --> 00:31:51,190 please visit our link in the Show notes link. 512 00:31:51,190 --> 00:31:55,200 TR EE forward slash double edged sword. 513 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,440 Until next time, God bless you all.