Our Holy Father Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria (444).
Apostles’ Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Romans 5:17-6:2; Matthew 9:14-17.
Read Matthew 9:14-17
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
This week marks the first week after Pentecost celebrations, which included Holy Spirit Monday and the fast free week. Up to this time we have been rejoicing in the Risen, ascended Christ who has fulfilled his promise of sending us the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father. There is so much grace given to us it is hard to unpack and understand in our lifetime the immensity of God’s love for each of us through the gift of His Christ and Holy Spirit. The Apostles fast, an often forgot and even misunderstood season of the Church, is given to us for this reason. Even Jesus said, “the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.”
The Apostle’s Fast is a season dedicated for personal renewal and growth in the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us by Christ—notice that this season leads us into mission, which is the proclamation of the Gospel to the world. The Holy Spirit is the new wine given by Jesus, but to receive this new wine we must heed the call for a greater renewal in Christ himself. This requires a deepening in our relationship with Jesus and a letting go of the old ways, which are contrary to the Gospel. This is the only way to receive the Holy Spirit in our life. We cannot contain the uncontainable Spirit of God without clinging more and more closely to the new garment and wineskin, who is Christ.