What is Fasting?

Today we're going to learn about fasting and why it's special in our Maronite faith. Fasting means choosing not to eat certain foods or not eating for a while to grow closer to God. Let me tell you about Jesus and how He fasted. Before Jesus began His mission to teach people about God's love, He went into the desert for forty days. For all those days, Jesus didn't eat any food. He spent His time praying to His Father in heaven. The devil came to tempt Jesus when He was very hungry. The devil said, 'If you're really God's Son, turn these stones into bread!' But Jesus said, 'People don't live only by eating bread, but by listening to God's words.' Can anyone tell me why Jesus said no to the devil? That's right! Jesus wanted to show us that loving and obeying God is more important than food or anything else we want. In our Maronite Church, we have special times of fasting, especially during Lent before Easter. During these times, we might not eat meat or sweets, and we eat smaller meals. Can you think of why we do this? When we fast like Jesus did, we remember that God should be the most important thing in our lives, not food or toys or games. Fasting helps us pray better and think about others who don't have enough food. It makes our hearts stronger and helps us say no to things that aren't good for us. Just like Jesus, when we fast and pray, we grow closer to God our Father.