December
20

Serving God with Fasting.

And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who stood not back from the temple, serving God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she, at that very hour, standing by, confessed the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)

“Also those who are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful,” signifies that those who are in love to the Lord, in love towards the neighbor, and in the faith of charity, have the truth respecting the Lord’s Divine authority and the Divine holiness of the Word. This is evident from the signification of the “called,” as being in reference to the Lord those who are in love to the Lord; also from the signification of the “chosen,” as being those who are in love towards the neighbor; also from the signification of the “faithful,” as being those who are in the faith of charity. (Apocalypse Explained 1074:1)

“Fasting” signifies mourning on account of the lack of truth and good… and the desire of learning the goods and truths of faith. (Apocalypse Explained 1189:2; Arcana Coelestia 9050:7)

“Be thou faithful unto death,” signifies reception and acknowledgment of truths, until falsities are removed, and as it were abolished. By “be thou faithful unto death,” in the natural sense, is meant that they must not depart from fidelity even to the end of life. But in the spiritual sense, it means that they must receive and acknowledge truths even until falsities are removed by them and as it were abolished; for this sense is properly for those who are in the spiritual world, for whom there is no death. (Apocalypse Revealed 102)

Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)

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