Day 6 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.

The Sixth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat

Martyrdom of St.Dioscorus

      On this day, St. Dioscorus was martyred at the time of the Arabs. He was from Alexandria, and was brought up as Christian but for unexplained reason he left the faith of his fathers and adopted the faith of the Arabs. He had a married sister in the city of Fayyum. When she knew what her brother did, she sent a letter to him saying: "I would have preferred that the news had come to me telling me that you had died a Christian, and I would have rejoiced, than that the news that reached me, that you are not dead, and you have abandoned the Faith of Christ your God." At the end she said: "Know that this letter marks the end of the relation between you and me. From this time on do not show me your face and do not write me." When he had read his sister's letter, he wept bitterly, and he smote his face and tore his beard. Then he rose in haste and girded up his loins, prayed entreating God fervently and made the sign of the cross over himself. He went out of his house and wandered about in the city. When the Muslims saw him in this condition, they brought him to the Governor who asked him: "You have left Christianity and joined our religion, so what happened to you?" He replied saying "I have been born Christian, and I shall die Christian, and I do not know except this." The Governor threatened him, beat him and inflicted great pain upon him and when he did not change his opinion, he shut him up in prison. The Governor sent to the Khalifa of Egypt presenting his case to him. The Khalifa ordered the governor to offer him leaving the faith of the Christians and entering the faith of the Khalifa, if he obeyed to give him much money and to reward him, otherwise to burn him. The Governor brought him out of jail and asked him to deny his faith but he refused saying: "I told you before that I have been born Christian, and I shall die Christian." He ordered him to be burnt. They dug a large pit outside the city, and they filled it with wood and they set fire in it. When the flames of the fire mounted up to a great height, they casted him in the pit after they had beaten him sorely and gashed his body with knives. He received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven.

May His prayers be with us all. Amen.

Departure of St.Theodotus, the Bishop

      On this day also is the commemoration of the departure of St. Theodsius the confessor, Bishop of Corinth which on the island of Cyprus. Julius, the Governor of this island, who had been appointed by Diocletian, had him brought before him. He demanded from him to deny the Lord Christ and to raise incense to the idols. When he did not obey his orders, he removed off the Saint's garments and lashed him painfully with whips made of buffalo hide, hanged him from his arms, and combed his body with steel combs inflicting him with gashes all over his body. Then they tied to his legs long iron bands, and dragged him to prison. He remained in prison until God perished Diocletian and Constantine the righteous Emperor reigned, who released him among all those who had been jailed for the sake of faith. St.Theodsius returned to his Episcopal Seat, and tended his flock, that he was entrusted with, well until he departed in peace.

May his intercession be with us and Glory be to God for ever. Amen.

Readings for Annunciation

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 144 : 5,7

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

Vespers Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

Luke 7 : 36 - 50

And Glory be to God forever.

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Matins

Matins Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 72 : 6 - 7

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

Matins Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

Luke 11 : 20 - 28

And Glory be to God forever.

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Liturgy Gospel

Paulines Epistle

Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Romans 3 : 1 - 31

The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.

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Catholic Epistle

A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.

1 John 1 : 1 - 2 : 6

Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.

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Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.

Acts 7 : 23 - 34

The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.

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Synaxarium

Day 29 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.

The Twenty-Ninth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat

Commemoration of the Life giving Annunciation

On this day the church commemorates the Annunciation of our Lady, the Theotokos, the Virgin St. Mary. When the appointed time by God since eternity for the salvation of the human race had come, God sent Gabriel the Archangel to the Virgin St. Mary, who is from the tribe of Judah the house of king David, to announce her with the Divine conception and the Glorious Birth as the Holy Scriptures testifies: " Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Then the angel gave her the proof of the validity of his massage: "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-36) When she had accepted this Divine Annunciation, the Only Begotten Son, the Word of God, who is One of the Three eternal Persons, came and dwelt in her womb, a dwelling, the human race can not comprehend. And straightway He united with perfect humanity a complete unity inseparable and unchangeable after the unity. This day then is the first-born of all feasts, for in it was the beginning of the salvation of the world which was fulfilled by the Holy Resurrection of our Lord, saving Adam and his offspring from the hands of Satan.

We ask Our God and Savior graciously to forgive our transgressions and excuse our sins. Amen.

Commemoration of the Resurrection of the Lord Christ from the dead

      On this day also the salvation was completed by the holy Resurrection, for Our Lord when he had finished His work upon earth, during a period of thirty three years, suffered of His own free will on the eve of the twenty-seventh day of this month, and He rose from the dead on this very day. As it was on this very day the incarnation of Christ was announced to the people of the world who were awaiting Him. On friday, the living and the dead rejoiced in their Salvation, and on sunday the living became certain of it, and they knew of their resurrection by the Resurrection of the body of Christ, Who was the first-fruits of the dead as the apostle Paul Said: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20)

We ask Him according to His great mercy and His compassion that He may grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Amen.

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Divine Psalm

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 45 : 10 - 11

Hallelujah.

Divine Gospel

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

Luke 1 : 26 - 38

And Glory be to God forever.

إن‏ ‏دانيال‏ ‏والثلاثة‏ ‏فتية‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يأكلوا‏ ‏لحما‏ ‏من‏ ‏مائدة‏ ‏الملك‏, ‏واكتفوا‏ ‏بأكل‏ ‏البقول‏ ‏فصارت‏ ‏صحتهم‏ ‏أفضل‏ ‏من‏ ‏غيرهم‏ (‏دا‏ 1:15).‏
والآباء‏ ‏السواح‏, ‏وآباء‏ ‏الرهبنة‏ ‏الكبار‏, ‏كانوا‏ ‏متشددين‏ ‏جدا‏ ‏في‏ ‏صومهم‏, ‏ولم‏ ‏نسمع‏ ‏أبدا‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏أضعف‏ ‏صحتهم‏, ‏بل‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏قوية‏ ‏حتي‏ ‏في‏ ‏سن‏ ‏الشيخوخة‏.‏وأبونا‏ ‏آدم‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يقل‏ ‏أحد‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏مرض‏ ‏وضعف‏ ‏بسبب‏ ‏الطعام‏ ‏النباتي‏, ‏وكذلك‏ ‏أمنا‏ ‏حواء‏, ‏وكل‏ ‏الآباء‏ ‏قبل‏ ‏فلك‏ ‏نوح‏… ‏فاطمأنوا‏ ‏إذن‏ ‏علي‏ ‏صحتكم‏ ‏الجسدية‏…‏

الذي‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏بل‏ ‏الأكل‏.‏
تتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏كثرة‏ ‏الأكل‏, ‏والتخمة‏, ‏وعدم‏ ‏الضوابط‏ ‏في‏ ‏الطعام‏, ‏وكثرة‏ ‏الإخلاط‏ ‏غير‏ ‏المتجانس‏ ‏في‏ ‏الطعام‏ ‏ودخول‏ ‏أكل‏ ‏جديد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏أكل‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يهضم‏ ‏داخل‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏كما‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏الطاقات‏ ‏الحرارية‏ ‏الزائدة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تأتي‏ ‏من‏ ‏أغذية‏ ‏فوق‏ ‏حاجة‏ ‏الإنسان‏, ‏وما‏ ‏أكثر‏ ‏الأمراض‏ ‏التي‏ ‏سببها‏ ‏الأكل‏.‏
لذلك‏ ‏يجب‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تتحرروا‏ ‏من‏ ‏فكرة‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الصحة‏.‏
إنها‏ ‏فكرة‏ ‏خاطئة‏, ‏ربما‏ ‏نبتت‏ ‏أولا‏ ‏من‏ ‏حنو‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏الزائد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏أبنائهن‏, ‏حينما‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏الأم‏ ‏تفرح‏ ‏إذ‏ ‏تري‏ ‏ابنها‏ ‏سمينا‏ ‏وممتلئ‏ ‏الجسم‏, ‏وتظن‏ ‏أن‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏هي‏ ‏الصحة‏! ‏بينما‏ ‏قد‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏السمين‏ ‏أضعف‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏من‏ ‏الرفيع‏.‏
حنو‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏الخاطئ‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يمنع‏ ‏الأبناء‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏أو‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يخيفهم‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏وتقول‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏حنو‏ ‏خاطئ‏, ‏لأنه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏بروح‏ ‏الابن‏ ‏كما‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏بجسده‏, ‏كما‏ ‏لو‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏أولئك‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏أمهات‏ ‏لأجساد‏ ‏أبنائهن‏ ‏فقط‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏إشفاق‏ ‏الأم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏جسد‏ ‏ابنها‏ ‏تهتم‏ ‏بغذاء‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏دون‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تلتفت‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏غذاء‏ ‏روحه‏!‏
ومع‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏سمعنا‏ ‏عن‏ ‏أطفال‏ ‏قديسين‏ ‏كانوا‏ ‏يصومون‏ ‏ولعل‏ ‏من‏ ‏أمثلة‏ ‏هؤلاء‏ ‏القديس‏ ‏مرقس‏ ‏المتوحد‏ ‏بجبل‏ ‏أنطونيوس‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏بدأ‏ ‏صومه‏ ‏منذ‏ ‏طفولته‏ ‏المبكرة‏, ‏واستمر‏ ‏معه‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏كمنهج‏ ‏حياة‏.‏
وكذلك‏ ‏القديس‏ ‏الأنبا‏ ‏شنودة‏ ‏رئيس‏ ‏المتوحدين‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏كان‏ ‏في‏ ‏طفولته‏ ‏يعطي‏ ‏طعامه‏ ‏للرعاة‏, ‏ويظل‏ ‏منتصبا‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصلاة‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏حتي‏ ‏الغروب‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏بعد‏ ‏في‏ ‏التاسعة‏ ‏من‏ ‏عمره‏.كان‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏للكل‏ ‏كبارا‏ ‏وصغارا‏, ‏منحهم‏ ‏جميعا‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏وقوة‏ ‏وقد‏ ‏خلص‏ ‏أجسادهم‏ ‏من‏ ‏الدهن‏ ‏والماء‏ ‏الزائدين‏.‏

وهكذا‏ ‏حفظت‏ ‏لنا‏ ‏كثير‏ ‏من‏ ‏أجساد‏ ‏القديسين‏ ‏دون‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تتعفن‏, ‏بسبب‏ ‏البركة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏حفظ‏ ‏بها‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الأجساد‏ ‏مكافأة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏قداستها‏, ‏هذا‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏, ‏ومن‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏أخري‏ ‏لأن‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الأجساد‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏بعيدة‏ ‏عن‏ ‏أسباب‏ ‏التعفن‏, ‏بسبب‏ ‏قلة‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏رطوبة‏ ‏ومن‏ ‏دهن‏.‏
قد‏ ‏تحفظ‏ ‏اللحوم‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏طويلة‏ ‏بلا‏ ‏تعفن‏, ‏إذا‏ ‏شوحوها‏ (‏قددوها‏) ‏أي‏ ‏عرضوها‏ ‏للحرارة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تطرد‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏ماءوتذيب‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏دهن‏, ‏فتصبح‏ ‏في‏ ‏جفاف‏ ‏يساعد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏حفظها‏, ‏إلي‏ ‏حد‏ ‏ما‏, ‏هكذا‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏أجساد‏ ‏القديسين‏ ‏بالصوم‏, ‏بلا‏ ‏دهن‏, ‏بلا‏ ‏ماء‏ ‏زائد‏, ‏فلم‏ ‏يجد‏ ‏التلف‏ ‏طريقا‏ ‏إليها‏…‏
ولكن‏ ‏لماذا‏ ‏نركز‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الجسد؟‏ ‏هل‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏فقط؟
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏مجرد‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏مجرد‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏بعيدا‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الروح‏, ‏فكل‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تشترك‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يعتبر‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الإطلاق‏, ‏فما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم؟‏ ‏وما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح؟
الصوم‏ ‏الحقيقي‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏روحي‏ ‏داخل‏ ‏القلب‏ ‏أولا‏وعمل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم‏. ‏هو‏ ‏تمهيد‏ ‏لعمل‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏أو‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏عن‏ ‏مشاعر‏ ‏الروح‏.‏

الروح‏ ‏تسمو‏ ‏فوق‏ ‏مستوي‏ ‏المادة‏ ‏والطعام‏, ‏وفوق‏ ‏مستوي‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏فتقود‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏موكب‏ ‏نصرتها‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏رغباتها‏ ‏الروحية‏. ‏ويعبر‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏عن‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏بممارسة‏ ‏الصوم‏.‏
إن‏ ‏قصرنا‏ ‏تعريفنا‏ ‏للصوم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏إذلال‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏بالجوع‏ ‏والامتناع‏ ‏عما‏ ‏يشتهيه‏, ‏نكون‏ ‏قد‏ ‏أخذنا‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏سلبياته‏, ‏وتركنا‏ ‏عمله‏ ‏الإيجابي‏ ‏الروحي‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏جوعا‏ ‏للجسد‏, ‏بل‏ ‏هو‏ ‏غذاء‏ ‏للروح‏.‏
ليس‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏تعذيبا‏ ‏للجسد‏. ‏أو‏ ‏استشهادا‏ ‏للجسد‏. ‏أو‏ ‏صليبا‏ ‏له‏. ‏كما‏ ‏يظن‏ ‏البعض‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تسامي‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏ليصل‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏المستوي‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يتعاون‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏ونحن‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏نقصد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏نعذب‏ ‏الجسد‏. ‏إنما‏ ‏نقصد‏ ‏ألا‏ ‏نسلك‏ ‏حسب‏ ‏الجسد‏. ‏فيكون‏ ‏الصائم‏ ‏إنسانا‏ ‏روحيا‏ ‏وليس‏ ‏إنسانا‏ ‏جسدانيا‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏روح‏ ‏زاهدة‏, ‏تشرك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏الزهد‏.‏
والصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الجائع‏, ‏بل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الزاهد‏ ‏وليس‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏جوع‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏بالأكثر‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تسامي‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏وطهارة‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏حالة‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يجوع‏ ‏ويشتهي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يأكل‏. ‏بل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يتخلص‏ ‏من‏ ‏شهوة‏ ‏الأكل‏, ‏ويفقد‏ ‏الأكل‏ ‏قيمته‏ ‏في‏ ‏نظره‏…‏
الصوم‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏ترتفع‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏وتجذب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏.‏
تخلصه‏ ‏من‏ ‏أحماله‏ ‏وأثقاله‏. ‏وتجذبه‏ ‏معها‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏فوق‏, ‏لكي‏ ‏يعمل‏ ‏معها‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏بلا‏ ‏عائق‏. ‏والجسد‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏سعيدا‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏روحية‏. ‏يقضيها‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏والروح‏ ‏معا‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏روحي‏, ‏يشترك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏واحد‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏يشترك‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصلاة‏ ‏والتآمل‏ ‏والتسبيح‏ ‏والعشرة‏ ‏الإلهية‏.‏
نصلي‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏فقط‏ ‏بجسد‏ ‏صائم‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏بنفس‏ ‏صائمة‏.‏
بفكر‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏وقلب‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الشهوات‏ ‏والرغبات‏. ‏وبروح‏ ‏صائمة‏ ‏عن‏ ‏المحبة‏ ‏العالم‏, ‏فهي‏ ‏ميتة‏ ‏عنه‏. ‏وكلها‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الله‏ ‏تتغذي‏ ‏به‏ ‏وبمحبته‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏الشكل‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الوسيلة‏ ‏الصالحة‏ ‏للعمل‏ ‏الروحي‏, ‏هو‏ ‏الجو‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏جميعه‏, ‏بقلبه‏ ‏ونفسه‏ ‏وروحه‏ ‏وفكره‏ ‏وحواسه‏ ‏وعواطفه‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏عن‏ ‏زهده‏ ‏في‏ ‏المادة‏ ‏والماديات‏. ‏واشتياقه‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الحياة‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الله‏. ‏وهذا‏ ‏الزهد‏ ‏دليل‏ ‏علي‏ ‏اشتراك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏صفاتها‏ ‏الروحية‏. ‏وبه‏ ‏يصبح‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏روحيا‏ ‏في‏ ‏منهجه‏, ‏وتكون‏ ‏له‏ ‏صورة‏ ‏الروح‏.‏
في‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏بما‏ ‏للجسد‏, ‏لا‏ ‏تهتم‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏بهذا‏, ‏ولا‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏به‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏في‏ ‏حالته‏ ‏الروحية‏.‏
لا‏ ‏تهتموا‏ ‏بما‏ ‏للجسد
في‏ ‏حديث‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الغذاء‏ ‏الروحي‏, ‏نسمعه‏ ‏يقول‏:‏
اعملوا‏ ‏لا‏ ‏للطعام‏ ‏البائد‏, ‏بل‏ ‏للطعام‏ ‏الباقي‏ ‏للحياة‏ ‏الأبدية‏ (‏يو‏ 6:27) ‏وبعد‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏يحدثهم‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الخبز‏ ‏النازل‏ ‏من‏ ‏السماء‏. ‏الخبز‏ ‏الحقيقي‏, ‏خبر‏ ‏الله‏, ‏خبز‏ ‏الحياة‏ (‏يو‏ 6: 32‏ـ‏35). ‏إنه‏ ‏هنا‏ ‏يوجه‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏وغذائها‏, ‏ويقود‏ ‏تفكيرنا‏ ‏في‏ ‏اتجاه‏ ‏روحي‏, ‏حتي‏ ‏لا‏ ‏ننشغل‏ ‏بالجسد‏ ‏وطعامه‏.‏
وحينما‏ ‏ذكر‏ ‏عبارة‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏بالخبز‏ ‏وحده‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏الإنسان‏ (‏مت‏ 4:4). ‏إنما‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏ينبغي‏ ‏للإنسان‏ ‏ألا‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏جسدنيا‏ ‏يعتمد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الخبز‏ ‏كطعام‏ ‏له‏. ‏ناسيا‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏وطعامها‏ ‏وعن‏ ‏طعام‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏قال‏ ‏لتلاميذه‏ ‏لي‏ ‏طعام‏ ‏لأكل‏ ‏لستم‏ ‏تعرفونه‏ (‏يو‏4:32). ‏وهنا‏ ‏يخطر‏ ‏علي‏ ‏فكرنا‏ ‏سؤال‏ ‏هو‏:‏
هل‏ ‏كان‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الجبل‏ ‏صائما‏ ‏أم‏ ‏يتغذي؟
والجواب‏ ‏هو‏: ‏كان‏ ‏صائما‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏يتغذي‏.‏
كان‏ ‏صائما‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏يتغذي‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏الروح‏.‏