Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
“Elijah fasted for forty days and received the keys of the heavens, so that, when he should desire it, he might command the rain and, when he should desire it, he might bring it forth through fasting and prayer.
Our Savior, who committed no sin and in whose mouth was found no guile, fasted for forty days and put the devil to shame. But he fasted in order to provide us with a model, that through fasting we might be empowered to attain the propitiation of sins.
Let us, therefore, keep a pure fast, beloved, concerning which the apostle James said, This is pure worship, to visit brethren in their affliction, and to keep yourselves undefiled from the world.”
Hesychios of Jerusalem (d. 450) in Fasting.
Propitiation and Pure Worship are lofty ideas and yet, through fasting, we can find their practical significance as we start a new week.
Hesychios teaches us that Elijah fasted and was given the keys to heaven, to unlock refreshing rain to a dry and thirsty land. His fasting foreshadows the work of Jesus.
When Jesus fasted, he emerged victorious over the devil and provided us with a model. That model positions us for fruitful ministry that washes sins away as it positions God to do all the work (and get the glory).
In that sense, when we follow the model of Jesus, when we fast for forty days each Lent, we learn how to put apply the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (or the propitiation) so sin no longer reigns in our lives.
If that’s too complicated, follow his example of James. Let your fast lead you to care for others who suffer and to keep from being polluted by the world.