Nativity Fast

[@sakinashafiq9831]

Greetings from Pakistan

[@carolflower9672]

Thank you for this EXCELLENT Message. Lord have mercy on us all

[@Kurdtiss]

As a Romanian Orthodox who wants to rekindle his fate with the upcoming fast I found this video very inspiring! Thank you!

[@bluetigerlozano59]

Thank you for the reminder about the Nativity Fast, Father. I appreciate it very much. This may be the hardest Fast in my entire life.... we are in foreclosure (and have been trying to fight it all year worried about losing our home), we lost our car from a hit and run accident a few weeks ago, no money for down payment for a new car, nobody will lend us a car for a few weeks until we can save up for another car, so we are without a car in a town with poor public transportation. We have no indoor running water (we lost our hot running water over a year ago and are used to that), no indoor heating this winter (other than one old electric heater), our water pipes under the house are busted but we can get water by turning it on briefly at various times of the day, and we are probably going to be evicted in a few months unless we can find a way to resolve our house crisis. I have no income and my brother has spent most of the year with poorly paid temporary job positions, we've relied solely on his few paychecks (he's unemployed part of the time because they are "temp jobs", food stamps and occasional money lent to us by distant cousins and a few friends, and the occasional unemployment check (which is limited). Our life has been a struggle, we are constantly praying for guidance and help, and few of our prayers are granted, nor do I understand God's will in all this. I have asked the help of countless saints and nothing has changed, but do not blame them as I know it is not their decision but God's alone. At the same time, I cannot be so foolish as to blame God for any of our struggles as it was our own unwise choices sometimes that has caused our problems (even the car accident which was not our fault, happened because we chose to drive that night, which we normally do, but still a 'choice'). So, the Fast....why should I bother even fasting? We are both vegetarians and eat vegan on Monday, Wednesday's and Friday's year round already, we are already giving up so much because of living below poverty for the past 2 years now at least... But I DO need to fast. Why? Because of two reasons, to show my obedience and love for God, but secondly and just as importantly, because just as you said, to teach me where my true 'focus' ought to be, on God and my relationship with him (through prayers and other means), or with satisfying my 'needs' or desires, of a transient life. The Fast is one that reminds us of God's mercy and love for us in the Incarnation through Nativity of Christ in the humble cave of Bethlehem, in a manger among humble animals and shepherds. God came to enrich our poverty, God came to strengthen the weak, God came to lift the lowly. Glory to God for all things! Glory to Jesus Christ.

[@karenrose1928]

Thank you for posting this really means alot god bless

[@williamboyd5023]

Your words are too true.