Beautiful Egypt 208 – Man and Fasting – May 28, 2017

   Few days ago, Ramadan fasting started; the Apostles’ Fast will start within a few days as well. This year, Egyptians will fast together: Muslims will fast Ramadan, and Christians the Apostles Fast. This, they perform a spiritual act through which they express how deeply they love God and humanity at large. In fact, any authentic spiritual act stirs man’s thought and conduct toward the depth of humanity and peaks of values and virtues.

   We beseech God to accept the fasts and supplications offered as love deeds and profound desires to get closer to him, wishing Egypt and her children peace and prosperity.

   As man fasts, he gets close to God through the fervent prayers emanating from an honest, repentant heart. During fast, man dedicates some time for evaluating his life, only to discover that he needs to restore some values and principles which could have been lost or shaken. Likewise, he evaluates his relation with his family, colleagues, relatives, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances, giving them more care and help.

   Life’s concerns have overshadowed everybody’s life in different degrees, which separated them away from one another. So much so that each seems to live isolated, and knows little or nothing about others!

Fasting and Prayer

   Fasting is closely connected with prayer. Indeed, prayer entails a relation with God, and when one prays, this relation gets stronger: for his mind and heart are elevated from worldly issues, to get close to God, the source life. In effect, goodness, love, and mercy fill his heart.

   Also, prayer fills one’s life with peace and quietude amidst a turbulent world: for he realized he is in good hands. Thus, his heart is freed from fear and worry, being sure that God controls everything, and nothing happens without His permission.

   When man is peaceful, he becomes more patient and productive. He fears nothing: for God’s care surrounds him. Whenever he faces a problem, he resorts to God, seeking peace and comfort. It is said, “ If you feel overwhelmed with worries, don’t say, ‘God, I have great concerns; say, ‘Concerns, I have a great God.”

   Likewise, as man prays, he reviews his life, only to thank God for all His benevolence which is abundant. It is said, “Should we contemplate the day’s incidents, we’ll realize that God protects us and our families and gives all good which we might not understand on time.”

   Here I recall the story of a minister and his king who never understood God’s wisdom. Yet, he loved and trusted his minister so much that he never left him. One day, the king embarked on a hunting trip which he was fond of, accompanied by his minister. During the trip, the king aimed an arrow wrongly, which wounded his finger. So, the minister said, “All works for good.”

   Yet, the wound worsened, became gangrenous, and the finger was eventually amputated. But, his minister kept saying, “All works for good.” So much so that the king was surprised. Even more, he got quite angry and said, “Do you wish my finger was amputated, saying ‘All works for good’?” Then he ordered his guards to arrest the minister and put him in prison. At that time, the minister said, “All works for good.”

   Days elapsed. The minister remained in prison, and the king continued to go hunting, though alone. Then, it came to pass that a tribe attacked the king and his family and brought them to its chief who wanted to offer them as a sacrifice for his gods! As they were preparing him to die, the chief noticed his amputated finger. So, he refused to offer him, ordering his men to return him where he belonged. Only then, the king understood God’s plan, and that not everything that seems evil is truly evil: for his torn finger saved him from death.

   When the king arrived at his palace, he brought the minister from prison and recounted the story, concluding it by saying, “You were right. But why did you say, ‘All works for good when I put you in jail?” The minister answered, “Had God not permitted this, I would’ve been the offering. So, this was good.”

Fasting and Mercy

   Fasting links man to God not just through prayer, but also through being tender and merciful to the others. Fasting makes man feel hungry and thirsty, which enhances his empathy toward others. Thus, mercy fills his heart, making feel for the weak, tired, and needy. Thus, mercy spreads amidst humans, making them retrieve such kindness which is about to vanish behind life’s conflicts.

   Mercy is reflected in tenderness and giving which fill life with joy and declare that humanity is still in good condition. Mercy does not just have to do with material giving to the needy, but transcends it, bearing within it kindness which man offers his fellows. Even more, he behaves kindly toward all creation.

   Another aspect of mercy is not judging others cruelly, hurting, or belittling them. Likewise, a merciful person does not just heed mistakes, but appreciates that everybody has a weakness. Thus, he helps them as much lovingly as he can to accommodate these weaknesses or heal some of them.

   A merciful person behaves kindly even toward those who do not deserve it. It is said that a lady stood before Napoleon Bonaparte to ask him to forgive her son who perpetrated a deed worthy of the cruelest punishment. Their dialogue went on thus:

Woman: I got to know that you’re merciful. Please pardon my son this time.

Bonaparte: I love mercy, and I pardoned him last time.

Woman: I implore you to pardon him this time, too.

Bonaparte: He doesn’t deserve mercy: for he belittled my mercy and made a mistake once more.

The mother did not despair, and went on saying, “I know he doesn’t deserve mercy, but you are merciful.”

Bonaparte: How come I offer mercy to someone unworthy of it?

   Woman: If you offer mercy to a worthy person, it is not mercy. But, true mercy is offered to those who don’t deserve it! Bonaparte kept quiet, then said, “Now I’ve realized what mercy is and decided to pardon him.”

   Fasting attracts man to a strong relation with God and implants mercy is humans’ hearts. What a great story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center