[Enjknsua]

If I have not love, I am a clanging cymbol. I think we need to keep in mind we are to love others as Christ loved the church. How can we show our love if we turn our backs on our families on "their" holy day? I am NOT suggesting we violate our fasting rules or other churchly obligations, but I agree with Alice, we can better share our faith with family by showing our love through Christ.

How can we possibly show love if we constantly say, I can't participate with you because I am Orthodox or because I am fasting? Did not Jesus say to wash you face and put oil on your head to not look as if you are fasting as do the pharisees? What better way to show our discipleship than to love our families yet maintain our restrictions? I think we losr our families respect (so to speak) if we break with our customs to share in theirs. What value is our faith if we do not stand up for it?

Paul