Coptic Advent

Advent fast is preparation for the Coptic Orthodox Nativity feast January 7th.

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It is the voice of my Beloved; He knocks saying, “Open for ME” (Song of Solomon 5:2).

The Church has put together, by the wisdom of Christ and the guidance of the Spirit, spiritual preparatory periods, in which God and man may be united in spiritual intercourse. These are periods of prayer and fasting; periods of spiritual elevation from the earthly to the heavenly and from the secular to the divine. Although fasting is abstaining from food and drink yet we find Christ knocking on the doors of our hearts saying, “Eat O friends! Drink deeply, O beloved ones” (Song of Solomon 5:1). Eat not of the food that perishes but the food that endures to everlasting life (John 6:27). Drink not of the well of Jacob but drink from His side that you may be quenched forever (John 4).

In the preparation for the Advent of Christ, the Church dedicates a period of forty-three days for fasting and prayers. This period of fasting is constituted of the forty days in which Moses fasted on the mountain before receiving the commandments written by the finger of God and the three days in which the church fasted for the moving of mount Mokatam in Egypt.

Moses fasted before receiving the commandments of God and likewise we also fast before receiving the incarnate God, who took our form to save us from the death of our sins. Let us prepare our hearts to be fitting mangers for the birth of Christ. Let us sanctify our souls to be suitable dwellings for the Divine.

The Church fasted during a troubling time in which its integrity was questioned and its faith was threatened. After spending three days in heartfelt prayers and ascetic fasts God revealed His power to the unbelievers and saved His people by the might of His arm. Likewise we also must fast that God may save us from the bondage of death and usher us into the liberty of life.

Let us fast for the forgiveness of the sins that we have committed against our loving God. Let us fast for the purification of our souls and our spirits. Let us fast for the cleansing of our hearts and minds. Let us fast for the renewal of our lives that we may be made worthy to live with Him in His kingdom. Let us fast that we may be considered worthy to dwell in His indissoluble embrace forever.

Fr. Mina Shaheid

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