Daily Actions and Behavior

"The days will come, 

 when the bridegroom 

is taken away from them, 

and then they will fast."

Matthew 9:15

Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? (Isaiah 58:5)

They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God (Isaiah 58:2).

In the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. You fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist.

Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high (Isaiah 58:3-4).

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 

because he anointed me 

to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent me 

to proclaim release to the captives, 

and recovery of sight to the blind, 

to set free those who are oppressed." 

Luke 4:18 

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

I was hungry and you gave me food, 

I was thirsty and you gave me drink, 

a stranger and you welcomed me, 

naked and you clothe me, 

ill and you cared for me, 

in prison and you visited me. 

Matthew 25:35-36

Amen, I say to you, 

whatever you did for one 

of these least brothers of mine, 

you did for me. 

Matthew 25:40

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:7)

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness (Isaiah 58:8-9).

Let us detach ourselves in spirit from all that we see and cling to that which we believe. This is the cross which we must imprint on all our daily actions and behavior. -- St. Peter Damian

Lord, I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on thy altar (Psalms 51:3-6, 18-19).