Should we fast on Sundays?

Q.  Since Sundays are not included in the 40 days of Lent, should one continue to fast or abstain, as it were, on those days too?

A.  Each Sunday of the year is a Feast Day which (by definition) trumps any fasting that might be going on.  There are other feast days that pop up from time to time (there are only a handful of them in Book of Common Prayer and they are all either days in celebration of a major saint or apostle from the Bible or to commemorate a major event from the Bible, like the Annunciation or the Ascension, etc.).

Sundays are feast days because just as the entire life of Christ is represented in the various seasons of the year, we can also commemorate His life during each of the 7 days of each week.  Here’s what I mean:

Annual.  The liturgical church year walks us through every aspect of Christ’s life: it begins with Advent, then Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, then the season of “Trinity” (in which the emphasis is on discipleship and growth in Christ).  

Weekly.  The life of Christ is also commemorated each week – for instance, on each Friday during the year we recall Jesus’ death . . . leading to His resurrection on Sunday.  (Thus traditionally, each Friday is a day of fasting.)

In summation: Every Sunday is a Feast of the Resurrection – so break your fast and enjoy it!