My friends, how much of this material world do we cling to? It is true
that we need shelter, we need food and clothing. What else do we truly need
beyond this? We need the Word of God; Jesus the Christ, the Bread of Life. What
things do we fast and ask for? Are they worthy of the fasting and asking? What
does Almighty God have to say regarding these things?
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 52 If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and
the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.
1 Cry,
cease not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their wicked
doings, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For
they seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as a nation that has
done justice, and has not forsaken the judgment of their God: they ask of me
the judgments of justice: they are willing to approach to God. 3 Why have we fasted, and you have not regarded: have we
humbled our souls, and you have not taken notice? Behold in the day of your
fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors. 4 Behold you fast for debates and strife. And strike with the
fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to
be heard on high. 5 Is this such a fast as I have
chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head
about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? will you call this a
fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 Is not
this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of wickedness, undo
the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder
every burden. 7 Deal your bread to the hungry, and
bring the needy and the harbourless into your house: when you shall see one
naked, cover him, and despise not your own flesh. 8 Then
shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall speedily
arise, and your justice shall go before your face, and the glory of the Lord
shall gather you up.
Web Page;
Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M
Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet
Many Blessings!
In Christ,
+William