Bishop Ambrose of Milan
important writing /preaching bishop
Biblical commentator
who wrote the book
On Elijah and Fasting
Therefore do not boast
when you fast; do not glory
lest fasting profit you
nothing; for those things
that are done for ostentation
will not prolong their fruit
into the future, but they
consume the reward for
present deeds. Elijah
was in the desert that no
one might see him fast
except the ravens alone,
when they supplied him
with food (hiding at the Wadi
Cherith : I Kings 17:3).
Elisha was in the desert
where no food except
poisonous wild gourds
could be found (II Kings
4:39). John [the Baptist]
was in the desert, where
he could find only locusts
and wild honey (Gosp.
Matthew 3:4 and parallels).
Feasts were served to those
fasting by the holy ministry
of angels. Daniel dined
among fasting lions. He
dined on the dinner of
another; the wild beasts
did not taste theirs (Book
of Daniel 14:32). Feasts
fly to those who fast, the
feet stagger of those who
dine: manna descended
from heaven to those who
were fasting (Exodus 16
and 32), the sin of
prevarication from those
who were banqueting
(Daniel 5 where banqueters
are seeing miraculous Writing
on the Walls).
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