Zechariah 8:19-23 - A Cause of Joy!

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love truth and peace.

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

Nothing says Joy like a smile!
photo by flickr user, burstingwithcolors,
used under the creative commons license.
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In this passage, the prophet says our fasts, that is, our ascetical struggles, will be for us a time of joy and gladness.  Fasting, a time of limiting our food and increasing our prayer, will be as a feast for us. Why? Because in these struggles, we grow closer to Christ.  In our self-denial, we tend to our souls. And being in proximity to Christ will bring nothing but gladness. Surely, as lent approaches (that is, for those in the Eastern Church), this is a great thing to remember! Any self-denial, for the sake of the soul, brings joy.

St Athanasius commented on this verse and saidthe Lord is the Feast spoken of and, unlike the heathen feasts which  portray the despicable acts of death and hell, those who feast in the Lord participate in a  display of Virtue. So by our Fasts we display the Lord.  And this is seen by others, who, seeing our joy take the hold of the robe...saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heart that God is with you.

Be of good cheer, O my soul, and embrace the fast.  For those who struggle to know Christ, will.
Amen.