Fasting of the Disciples of Christ

'Dine' at the 'table of the poor'.

The bread we eat helps only for our survival. The fasting from such food should help us to seek nourishment that will make us find our own faces and recognize the face of the Other. From preservation of life to extension of life.

Human beings live not on bread alone 
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God Mt 4/4

They live by the word which focuses on to love your God, love your neighbour and love your Self. From one side fasting is not to eat the bread that perishes, on the other side fasting is to eat more and more of the word that fills them with life.

Do not work for the food that perishes, 
but for the food that endures to eternal life Jn 6/27

Food provides energy and dynamism; one who eats of word of life will have that power to break barriers and dine at 'the table of the poor'.

Listen from the prophet Isaiah 58/ 6 – 11

Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me:

 to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes?

Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin?

Then your light will blaze out like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Saving justice will go ahead of you and Yahweh's glory come behind you.

Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer; you will call and he will say, 'I am here.' If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist and malicious words,

if you deprive yourself for the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, your light will rise in the darkness, and your darkest hour will be like noon.

Yahweh will always guide you, will satisfy your needs in the scorched land; he will give strength to your bones and you will be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never run dry.