Archbishop to lead day of fasting and prayer for the world's poor and hungry
Dr Philip Freier, Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, will be going without food tomorrow as he leads Melbourne Anglicans in a day of fasting and prayer - as a way of marking the half way point for reaching the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of halving world poverty by 2015.
‘It is shameful that half the world’s population – around three billion people – presently subsist on less than $2US a day,’ he says.
‘7 July 2007 marks the halfway point for reaching the Millennium Development Goal. I have called Anglicans in Melbourne to mark this halfway point with a day of fasting and prayer on July 4. It would be great if all Melburnians joined us.’
Between 1pm and 5pm Dr Freier will lead prayers in St Paul’s Cathedral, Flinders and Swanston Streets. All are welcome to join him for just a short time or the whole afternoon. The media are also welcome.
Why fasting? Because, Dr Freier says, ‘it is an ancient discipline common to several religious traditions. It expresses a serious intent, and is used in times of mourning, repentance or preparation. On this occasion, fasting is particularly appropriate, as it expresses our solidarity with the poor and hungry around the world. I am suggesting that we donate the money we save to overseas relief agencies.
‘Fasting might also help us become more alert to the high cost to ourselves of our contemporary Western lifestyle, as for a short time we cease to be driven by greed and acquisition.
‘The true costs of our self-indulgent lifestyles cannot be properly measured unless we consider their effects on the lives of those who have been forced into a new slavery in the third world. I challenge all of us to reflect on the daily consumer choices we make. We need to reflect on how we are complicit in creating and supporting economic injustice which imprisons others in lives of suffering, and adds to pollution and global warming.
‘I hope we will come to the position of saying a clear and deliberate ‘no’ to the greed and consumerism which our culture relentlessly promotes, and to which we have all to some degree become captive.’
Item from: The Anglican Church in Melbourne