The Apostle's Fast in the Ancient FaithIsampula

Day 1: Love - The Heart of the Apostle's Fast (Embracing Christ’s Command)

As we embark on the journey of the Apostle's Fast, we are invited to reflect deeply on the fruit of the Spirit, the virtues, that shaped the lives of the early Christians and the Apostles themselves. At the forefront of these virtues stands love, the very essence of God's nature and the cornerstone of our faith. "God is love," writes St. John the Apostle, "and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16). This profound truth sets the stage for our meditation and spiritual practice during this fasting season.

St. Paul the Apostle eloquently describes the supremacy of love in his first letter to the Corinthians: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). Love, the greatest of all virtues, is not merely an emotion or a feeling; it is an action, a commitment, a verb, a doing, a way of being in the world that reflects the divine. Love is a divine commandment bestowed upon us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Without love, our words are empty, our knowledge incomplete and our faith insufficient and today, we delve into the depths of this profound virtue, exploring its significance in our lives and its transformative power in our spiritual journey.

The Early Church Fathers, the great luminaries of Christianity, echoed this sentiment. St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was a disciple of St. John the Apostle (also known as St. John the Beloved, the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of St. James the Great), wrote in his Epistle to the Romans, "It is not enough to be called Christians, but we must also be Christians in deed and in truth." The truth he speaks of is the truth of love, a love that is patient and kind, that does not envy or boast, that is not arrogant or rude (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). This love is the hallmark of the true Christian, the unmistakable sign of the disciple of Christ. St. Ignatius of Antioch says in his letter to the Philadelphians: "Let your charity be without distinction of persons, whether they be good or bad, just as the sun rises on the evil and the good, and the rain comes down on the just and the unjust." In this quote, St. Ignatius echoes the teachings of Christ, urging us to love without reservation or prejudice.

St. John the Beloved, the apostle who rested on the Lord's breast at the Last Supper, exemplified this love in his life and writings. He was the apostle of love, the one who recorded the words that have become the foundation of Christian ethics: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34). St. John's love for Christ and his brethren was not a passive sentiment but an active force that propelled him to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly and to care for the Mother of God, the Theotokos, St. Mary, as his own. In these verses, Jesus lays bare the essence of His teachings – love. He calls us to emulate His selfless love, to love one another not as the world loves, but as He has loved us – unconditionally and sacrificially.

The Coptic Synaxarium, the Church's book of the lives of the Saints, tells us of the mutual love between St. Peter and St. Paul. Despite their differences in background and approach, they were united in their love for Christ and their commitment to spreading His message. Their love overcame any potential division, serving as a testament to the unifying power of divine love within the body of Christ. Another example of love among the apostles is found in the person of St. John the Beloved. Throughout the Gospels and his epistles, St. John emphasizes the centrality of love in the Christian life. His intimate relationship with Christ, marked by love, serves as a model for us all. From the foot of the Cross, where he stood with the Virgin Mary, to the shores of Patmos where he was exiled by Emperor Domitian, where he penned the Book of Revelation, St. John's life radiated with divine love.

As we fast and pray during this holy season, let us contemplate the love that drove the Apostles to travel to the ends of the earth, to face persecution and martyrdom with joy, to live lives of sacrifice and service. Let us consider how we, too, can embody this love in our interactions with family, friends, and even strangers. How can we show patience and kindness, how can we rejoice in the truth, how can we bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things, just as love does (1 Corinthians 13:6-7)? Let us examine our own lives in its light. Are we living as true disciples of Christ, bearing witness to His love through our actions and words? Let us follow the example of St. John the Beloved, embracing love as the defining characteristic of our Christian identity. Let us be inspired by the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch to love without distinction, reaching out to all with the same love that Christ has shown us. Let us be inspired by the unity of St. Peter and St. Paul to foster brotherly love and unity within the body of Christ.

In this season of fasting and reflection, let us strive to cultivate love in our hearts and in our actions. Let us remember that love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8), and that it is by our love that all will know we are Christ's disciples (John 13:35). May our devotion to this virtue draw us closer to God and to one another, creating a legacy of love that will endure long after the fast has concluded.

Let us pray:

O Lord, who is Love Incarnate, teach us to love as You have loved us. As we journey through the Apostle's Fast, instill in us the virtue of love that knows no bounds. Help us to see Your image in every person we encounter and to act with compassion and grace. May the example of St. John the Beloved inspire us to love not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Grant us the courage to love our enemies, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to lay down our lives for our brethren. May our love be a reflection and extension of Your light in a world that so desperately needs it. Amen.