The purpose of our Fasting before Christmas:
Let us understand why the prophets fasted. The world was in darkness after our parents Adam and Eve lost their rightful place- a state of communion with God in paradise. The promise given to them was that God would give light to the world, so they spoke in prophecy about just that.
David compares it to drowning in Psalm 144:7-8, “Send your hand from above and rid me and deliver me out of great waters”, and asks God to send the light in Ps 80:1 “You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth” and Ps 43:3 “Send out your light and your truth, let them lead me, let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle”.
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Knowing the promise made to Abraham and to the forefathers of the Jewish people, the prophet Micah asks God to remember in Micah 7:20 “You will perform truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which You promised our fathers in the old days”.
Ezekiel says “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean from all your filth and idols, I will clean you, I will also give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will take away your heart of stone out of your body and give you a heart of flesh”. The prophet Isaiah most directly prophesied of the coming of the Light, in his famous prophecies of Isa 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and she shall call His name ⁶
Emmanuel” and Isa 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His kingdom and peace there will be no end”.
Isaiah is an example of a prophet who not only in his words but in his very existence pointed to our Lord, as his name means yeesha (save us) Yah (God). And so the prophets fasted, looking forward to the mysterious union of God and man- the Incarnation of the Word- through which all mankind would be saved from death, as David saw when he composed Psalm 16:10 “You will not leave my soul in hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption”.
Melkam Lidet- Merry Christmas:
In Ethiopia, and in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo churches all over the world, Christians gather in their numbers on the eve of the Nativity all dressed in white robes- as mentioned in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 7:9) bringing with them their offerings to God, and carrying lighted candles that make the congregation resemble the starry ‘blackboard of the sky’ from which their predecessors 4000 years ago read the mystery that light would come into the world (John 3:19).
READ PART 1: Why the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the Nativity of Jesus Christ on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25 as the Western World does — Pt. 1
When they arrive at church they begin a long night of heavenly chanting and singing, announcing the birth of the Savior just like the angels did singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
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When the divine liturgy begins, the believers are taken back in time, as three priests and two deacons (mirroring the three kings and two nobles) lead the faithful in prayer and worship culminating in the Eucharist, where faithful Christians partake of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, as He promised “Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54). With this, they break their long Christmas Eve fast, and the church erupts into the joy of the Birth of Christ, wishing one another Melkam Lidet (Merry Christmas).
READ PART 2: Why the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the Nativity of Jesus Christ on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25 as the Western World does — Pt. 2
Amen. To God be the Glory, great things He has done.
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The post Why the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the Nativity of Jesus Christ on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25 as the Western World does — Pt. 3 appeared first on Antigua Breaking News.
