Saturday, February 21, 2004
Meat Fast
Eustathios, Archbishop of Antioch
Kellia: Zechariah 8:19-23 Epistle: Romans 14:19-23 Gospel: St. Matthew 5:42-48
Zechariah 8:19-23(LXX & MT), especially vs. 19, "...therefore
love truth and peace." Hebrew prophecy is a special genre of Biblical literature through which
the face of Christ shines in glory. However, when reading the Prophets' messages, certain
"ground rules" must be applied by Christians to unveil the glory. These working principles allow
one who knows the fullness of Christ to apply the Prophets' words within the context of the
believing, worshiping Church as "a child of the Light and an heir of eternal good things."
First, one always must understand that the Prophets foresaw the Mystery of Christ only in bare
outline. God provided enough information concerning the Lord's first and second coming that
His ancient people finally learned to expect the "Messiah" (the Christ); but only to us who are
united to Christ Jesus has it "been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God" (Mk. 4:11).
For this reason, the Christian reader of Old Testament prophecy must "flesh out" the Gospel from
the prophecies. Nonetheless, in completing what we read, we have the support and advantage of
the Apostolic witness of the New Testament and the wisdom of the Holy Fathers.
Second, ancient prophecy was written as poetry, and must therefore be read as such. Its imagery
always should be received through one's heart and mind, within Holy Tradition, and with the aid
of the Holy Spirit in order to receive God's truth.
Finally, the language of the Hebrew Prophets assumes the ethos, worship, and life of ancient
Israel and Judah. However, since the coming of Christ, words such as "Israel, Jerusalem, and
Zion" must be understood as the Church, as St. Paul has made clear (Rom. 9-11). The Body of
the Faithful in Christ, the Church, is the true Israel of God (Rom. 11:8, 23, 24).
With these introductory principles available, let us turn now to the present reading from the
prophecy of Zechariah. The lesson is about the age to come, God's eternal kingdom, that will
prevail following Christ's Last and Great Judgment.
Zechariah, however, speaks of four fasts practiced in ancient Israel in the fourth, fifth, seventh,
and tenth months (vs. 19). These ancient fasts were initiated as times of national repentance for
Israel's sins, sins that led to the exile of Judah's monarchy, the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction
of the Temple of Solomon, and a murderous and futile uprising against the Babylonians.
Zechariah foresaw that one day God would restore and forgive and that the need for repentance
would end. Then fasts would become feasts - times of celebration.
Let us be attentive! God is urging us to conduct our Christian fasting in the love of the Lord, in
truth and peace. We are to fast now to prepare ourselves to celebrate both the coming Feast of
Holy Pascha, but also to be worthy of the eternal banquet of the Lamb, the heavenly feast of the
age to come in Christ's Kingdom (Rev. 19:9) - when all fasting will be feasting.
In the age to come, Jew and Gentile servants of Christ alike will worship and pray as one People,
"inhabitants of many cities, peoples and nations" (Zech. 8:22). The incorporation of the nations
into Israel, into the Church, began in Apostolic times (Gal 3:28). Now, two thousand years of
inclusion has made the Church largely Gentile, yet we are one in Christ, the new People.
Why, then, do we have Fasts now? Why Great Lent, the Apostles' fast, the Dormition Fast and
the Nativity Fast? These seasons are gifts to help us prepare for our place in that great company
of peoples from every nation who will walk in the Uncreated Light of the New Jerusalem in the
age to come, when all tears and the need to fast will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4).
O Thou Who knowest the secrets of all hearts, prepare us through fasting to feast with Thee in
Thine eternal and glorious banquet in the age to come.
