My Thoughts on the Apostle's Fast

Many people who read this might not be fasting and might think I'm judging them.  Well, yes, I'm judging you, but it's because I love you.

Fasting the Apostle's fast sucks, but in many ways I think it is the most real fast.  It sucks because it is always in the summer when all you want to do is eat ice cream and barbecue.  Us Americans can't even celebrate Independence Day properly because we can never have hot dogs and burgers and funnel cakes and whatever else.  It is also after a gluttonous Holy 50 Days when we have completely destroyed our self control and forgotten all the spiritual fruits we reaped during Lent and have to start from square one.  But this is the real test of our faith, isn't it?  To abstain from our desires when it is the hardest to abstain, when the culture around us is tempting us the most not to abstain.

And really, what is the point of the Apostle's fast?  Jesus is already gone, are we doing it for the Holy Spirit or for the apostles?  Or are we doing it in the name of "mission" for the future of our church, which is an even more abstract concept?  In all cases, it is ephemeral.  Every other fast is directly related to Christ, even St. Mary's fast is more related to Christ than the Apostle's fast.  This is also a real test of our faith, when we are supposed to fast or do things for others.  It is easy to do things when we are doing it directly for God, but it is harder to do them when we are indirectly doing it for God.  And that is the bulk of our life.  Remembering that we are dealing with annoying coworkers/family members/friends and working so hard and trying our best, all for God.

Maybe during the Holy 50 Days we have to pace ourselves and prepare ourselves for the Apostle's fast, rather than blowing it off and creating our own Holy(?) 100 Days.

If you are feeling guilty for not fasting, good.  But it is never too late to start fasting.  Do not despair.  There is one more week left of the Apostle's fast, and you should fast it.  You will be glad you did it.