Festival of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor
Posted on May 2, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 2:18-22 (NKJV)
2:18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Devotion
Two groups of people were currently fasting, and for very different reasons. The Jews had been commanded by God to fast on the Day of Atonement, but the Pharisees added more days, with some of them fasting twice a week! John the Baptist’s disciples were fasting, for John had recently been put in prison by Herod (Mark 1:14). Since Jesus’ disciples were the only ones not fasting, He was questioned about it. Jesus replies there was no need to fast, for the Bridegroom (He Himself ) was still with them. This builds on what John the Baptist had recently said: “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30).
Therefore, it will be appropriate for Jesus’ disciples to fast when the Bridegroom has been taken from them. With God incarnate now present, He becomes the focus of worship. All that was before was mere preparation. Jesus is to be the heart and soul of all that we do.
Prayer: Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
O God, who didst give Saint Athanasius as a faithful teacher of the saving truth in a time of great trial, grant to Thy people zeal for Thy Word and faithful teachers for Thy Church, that they may stand steadfast against all error, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
