Advent fast reminds us Christ brings hope and healing amid brokenness, say bishops

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) -- "Even in our anguish, hope can take root and healing can begin anew" through Jesus Christ, said the nation's Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops in a new pastoral letter marking the start of an annual Advent fast.

On Nov. 14, Metropolitan Borys A. Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia and his fellow bishops released their message for the 2025 St. Philip's Fast, which began on Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 24.

Also known as the Nativity Fast, the observance is embraced by Eastern Catholics and Christians worldwide.

Instituted at the Council of Constantinople in 1166, the fast begins prior to Advent on Nov. 15, the day after the feast day of St. Philip on Eastern rite calendars, and ends on Christmas Eve.

During the fast, the faithful typically abstain from meat on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, while observing a lesser form of abstinence on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The fast is often intensified in the days immediately preceding Christmas.

Although less strict than the Eastern church's fast for Great Lent in preparation for Pascha, or Easter; the St. Philip Fast is intended to prepare the faithful for the joy of Christ's birth.

In their pastoral message, the U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishops said the fast invites contemplation of the "pre-eternal God, who holds the universe in His hand," humbling himself "to become truly human: a vulnerable, defenseless child."

The Gospels feature "vibrant images and words that reveal the brokenness of the world into which Christ was born," such as Roman occupation and oppression, "political machinations that lead to the slaughter of the Innocents, forced migration, and the lack of shelter even for a pregnant mother," said the bishops.

Yet "God enters into this world of suffering to bring healing and salvation," coming "to meet our humanity in the midst of all its pain and vulnerability," they said.

"Born in a stable, soon to become a refugee, Christ identifies with every wound, every scourge, every form of human brokenness," wrote the bishops.

As Russia's war on Ukraine -- launched in full in 2022, and continuing attacks initiated in 2014 -- nears the 12-year mark, that message takes an even deeper meaning, they said.

"Living through the fourth winter of a barbaric aggression, Ukrainians, members of our Church, bear witness to the profound woundedness of humanity, indeed, they’re experiencing it firsthand," said the bishops. "The horrors of destruction, loss, and displacement leave scars on the land, on the bodies of soldiers and civilians, and on the hearts of tens of millions of innocents."

That anguish knows no borders, the bishops said.

"Those of us who live far from immediate suffering carry our own burdens. We feel the weight of separation, fatigue, and quiet loneliness. We bear hidden grief and carry profound wounds," they wrote.

The bishops highlighted the current Jubilee Year of Hope, saying it "calls us to trust in God’s promises amid personal and global turbulence and uncertainty."

The bishops emphasized, "Hope is not an abstract idea, it is incarnated."

"In Christ it takes on flesh. It is made visible to us at Christmas," they wrote. "God Himself enters our fragile world, bringing light, renewal, and the promise of restoration."

St. Philip's Fast, they said, "invites us to step aside and reclaim the gift of silence," in which the faithful can ponder the mystery of Christ's coming.

"We are encouraged to fast not only from food but, importantly in our day, from the chatter of social media, those 'likes' and 'shares' that steal our inner peace, the pull of consumerism, and the endless distractions that fragment our attention," the bishops wrote. "By intentionally creating time and space for stillness, we open ourselves to the quiet presence of God."

They also urged personal prayer, Scripture meditation, participation in liturgical worship and silent contemplation throughout Advent.

Citing Revelation 21:5, the bishops said, "When the noise of the world fades, we begin to hear the gentle voice of God, who enters the world to make all things new."