The Nativity Fast: How to Choose a Personal Challenge & Grow in Mercy

About this sermon

Glory to Jesus Christ! As we enter the Nativity Fast (Philip’s Fast), this reflection encourages us to approach the season with wisdom, intention, and spiritual courage. Every fasting period is a chance to deepen our relationship with God, but this video reminds us that fasting is not just about food—it’s about the transformation of the heart. In this sermon-style message, you’ll learn: ✨ How to create a personal fasting rule ✨ Why your fasting challenge must be realistic yet spiritually stretching ✨ The importance of identifying one specific area of weakness to work on ✨ A powerful Gospel reminder: “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.” ✨ The teaching of St. Isaac the Syrian about mercy bringing the soul “immediately to the gates of the Kingdom” ✨ How mercy becomes the “shortcut” to spiritual growth ✨ Why approaching others with mercy—even those who hurt us—changes the heart ✨ How the Nativity Fast prepares us to welcome Christ with a renewed and purified soul This reflection reminds us that every fasting season carries immense grace, and missing that grace is a missed opportunity for holiness. If you're preparing for the Nativity of our Lord, this video will guide you through choosing a meaningful challenge that leads you closer to Christ. May God grant us courage, wisdom, and merciful hearts this fasting season. Amen. ✅ Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction 0:22 – Preparing for the Nativity Fast 0:52 – Rule of Fasting: Minimum vs. Personal Discipline 1:55 – Fasting Should Challenge Us 2:36 – Avoiding Stagnation in Your Routine 3:02 – The Call to “Shake Yourself” Spiritually 3:40 – Choosing a Personal Fasting Challenge 4:45 – Adding Something New to Life for Spiritual Growth 5:02 – Today’s Gospel: The Commandment to Be Merciful 5:48 – “Be Merciful as Your Heavenly Father Is Merciful” 6:04 – Mercy as the Path to Spiritual Perfectness 7:09 – The Difficulty & Necessity of Learning Mercy 7:32 – Spiritual Growth Has No Shortcuts 8:00 – St. Isaac the Syrian on Mercy 8:36 – Mercy Brings Us Close to God 9:02 – Making Mercy Your Fasting Challenge 10:13 – Examining Your Heart During the Nativity Fast 10:46 – Do Not Waste the Grace of the Season 11:07 – Conclusion & Prayer For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@stnickbyz & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #NativityFast #PhilipsFast #OrthodoxChristian #ChristianFasting #BeMerciful #OrthodoxSermon #OrthodoxSpirituality #StIsaacTheSyrian #ChristianLiving #AdventPreparation #OrthodoxFaith

Topics

• Love & Compassion
• Christmas