Mark 1:1-14. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Jesus spent time in the wilderness, a time of fasting, prayer, and focus on that which was foundational for his life and vocation ahead. The Church, through the rhythm of the Church Year, has set aside a time of reflection prior to the two great feasts of Christmas and Easter. Lent is the reflection time prior to Easter. Fasting is a custom recommended in order for feasting to have a richer personal dimension. The beneficial spiritual tandem between fasting and feasting is captured in verses penned by The Rt. Rev. Arthur Lichtenberger, former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church:
Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy;
Fast from criticism, and feast on praise;
Fast from ill-temper, and feast on peace;
Fast from resentment, and feast on love;
Fast from pride, and feast on humility;
Fast from selfishness, and feast on service;
Fast from fear, and feast on faith
As a discipline during Lent you might take one of these a week to reflect on during the seven weeks of Lent (for this purpose I would count the partial week in which Ash Wednesday falls); or to live more fully into the fast/feast dynamic......take the first half of each prayer for the seven consecutive weeks and then take the last half for the seven weeks of the Great Fifty Days of Easter. This personal encounter with fasting and feasting can't help but refine the spirit toward wholeness.
— The Rev. Hollis Williams
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