Article January 29, 1910 Issue

THE ACCEPTABLE FAST

MAY BELCHER.

The wonderful illumination which Christian Science gives to our study of the Bible was recently brought home very forcibly to the writer when reading the 58th chapter of Isaiah. In our former thought fasting meant mortification of the flesh by the temporary suppression of our own physical desires, regardless of our duty to our fellowman. Frequently the result of this fasting was made very manifest to all around in our dejected faces, gloomy outlook on life, and sometimes also in our sense of diminished strength and usefulness. Not understanding that our strength and sustenance are from God alone, and not in any way dependent upon material conditions, the abstinence from food (and other similar attempts to mortify the flesh) often seemed to have a very harmful effect on our bodies, and also on our tempers, so much so that the peace and harmony of those around us was seriously interfered with.

Our Master's condemnation of this material method of fasting is brought out very clearly in Matthew's Gospel, where he speaks to his disciples of the fasting of the Pharisees: "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." He then goes on to tell his disciples how they are to fast: "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." This shows us very clearly how the material view of fasting, in that it is a selfish and limited one, since it includes only a personal and material view of the subject,—dealing as it does with the mortification and denial of the flesh,—is of no avail, either for ourselves or others.

In this wonderful chapter in Isaiah, however, we are shown what the true spiritual fast is. To me it means that the only fast acceptable to God must include and help our brother as well as ourselves; that we must abstain from condemnation or criticism of him by thought, word, or deed. We must not only strive to break down our own false beliefs and desires, but help to free all mankind; to break every yoke of materialism, no matter whether it be the belief of sin, sickness, or death; to fast or abstain from any belief in evil, and to realize always, both for ourselves and all mankind, the harmony of God's kingdom, which is here and now. I feel that by putting this spiritual understanding of fasting into practice we fulfil the law of Sinai and the law of Jesus: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me;" and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

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