FASTING AND ALMSGIVING

By : Rasid Rachman

Christians have been in Lent season since several weeks ago. During 4o days (is counted before Easter excluded Sundays) of Lent seasons, all Christians make themselves introspection by fasting, praying, and give alms. Fasting and praying are the way to do self-control. Self-control means thinking not of themselves but others. Fasting and praying are the way to do almsgiving.
Either The Bible or Jesus in the Gospel don’t teach how to fasting. He fasted for 40 days after His baptism (Matt 4), but He didn’t teach His disciples fast. There is no instruction or law for Christian fast, but for Jews in Old Testament tradition. Jesus even said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” On the other way He taught that His followers don’t necessary to fast, because He still with them. And He also said, “The day will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matt 9:14-17). According to this passage, there is a time to fast, but not now.
Christians get fast teaching from monastic traditions around 3rd and 5th century in Egypt. Some desert fathers fasted, but others didn’t. Abba Poemen didn’t fast, but ate only a little, so as not to be satisfied. Some monks ate dry bread and, if they found any, green herbs and water. Theon ate vegetables but only those that didn’t need to be cooked. Elias, in his old age, ate three ounces of bread in ninth hour. In his youth, he ate only once a week. Pityrion ate twice a week, taking on Sundays and Thursdays a little soup made with corn meal. Anthony (3rd century) from Egypt didn’t finish whole his bread, but only a half; a half part of his bread was for the hunger.
Until now, fasting is not a law for Christian. Therefore, fasting is private worship. Any Christians can fast as long as they like. Therefore, Church doesn’t force people to fast. Church provides guidance for Christians who want to fast, either during Lent or whole years long on Wednesdays and Fridays. Those two days are laid as fast days; Wednesday because when the Jews held the council for betrayal of Jesus; and Friday because that is when He suffered for us. Fasting in Christian tradition is for remember Christ event.
Besides, fasting is a calling for Christian to give alms. There is no fasting that aim to itself. People get surplus as a results of fast. People use that surplus to help do anything good, such as do justice, help the poor, make school for street children, etc. Our neighbors in Indonesia, Muslims give an example. During fast season, that is Ramadhan, they also do almsgiving after fasting. Also, monks from first era of Christianity gave example how they do fasting and almsgiving at the same time.

One day someone gave St Macarius a bunch of grapes, and he sent them to another brother whom he taught was more delicate than himself. Then the recipient gave thanks to God for his brother’s gift, but he likewise didn’t think of himself but of others. He sent them to someone else, and this one to the next, and thus they passed through all the cells which are scattered about in the desert far from each other, each recipient ignorant of the original sender.

According to the example of this monk story, fasting means concern to others. In Indonesian word for fasting is puasa. It comes from Sanskrit: upa (means: come nearer to) and Wasa (means: God, or The Only Almighy God from Sang Hyang Widi Wasa in Hindu terminology). So, do fasting and alms giving in the one time means we make ourselves nearer to God. We make ourselves nearer to God when we prove neighbour to others. ®

From praying to fasting
From fasting to almsgiving
From almsgiving to self-control
Self-control makes thinking not of self, but others