Today, November 15th, we begin the Nativity Fast. Some call this season Advent, which quite literally means "arrival" and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. We in the Orthodox Tradition do not call this 40-day period in the Church calendar Advent because, quite simply, the person has not yet arrived! Rather, it is the season of preparation for His arrival, or birth, on Christmas Day.
It says in one of the seasonal hymns of the Church, “Prepare yourself, O Bethlehem, for Eden is opened unto all” (Kathisma, Sunday Before the Nativity). We are Bethlehem summoned to prepare ourselves to receive the Baby Jesus, the Christ and Savior of the world. And that is why we observe the Nativity Fast: to prepare ourselves. It is a time to reflect on and keep at the forefront of our minds the meaning and purpose of His coming birth. Nevertheless, it is a happy time. And the fast is not as severe or somber as in Great Lent. It ought to be reflective of a festive and joyful spirit, a charitable and giving heart.
Of course, we Orthodox Christians prepare ourselves through fasting, like before holy Communion, before Pascha, prior to the Dormintion, or any great Feast for that matter. There is no feast without fasting and conversely there is no fasting without a feast. But it is not merely about food, about what we eat. It is about how we think and act. Fast from negative thoughts. Fast from animosity. Fast from complaining. Fast from self-pity. Fast from foul language. Fast from anger. And so on.
The Father sent His Son because of love. So, let us reflect His love, the love Christ brings in His birth. As it is recorded in the Christmas narrative in Luke, ““Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)
Peace and goodwill should begin with us. Let us bring the peace of Christ to others. Let us share goodwill to all wherever we go. To truly prepare, make sure that peace and goodwill begins with us.
