ON SPIRITUAL FASTING

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ON SPIRITUAL FASTING
By Saint Justin of Ufa and Menzelisk

SPIRITUAL FASTING is closely connected with bodily fasting, similar to how our soul is connected with the body, penetrates it, animates it, and together with it makes up one whole as the soul and body make up one living person. And therefore, while fasting bodily, it is necessary for us TO FAST SPIRITUALLY AS WELL. How can we keep this spiritual fast?

In bodily fasting, abstinence from abundance from abundant, delicious, and sweet food is at the forefront; IN SPIRITUAL FASTING, IT IS ABSTINENCE FROM PASSIONATE SINFUL MOVEMENTS THAT DELIGHT OUR SENSUAL INCLINATIONS AND VICES. Here giving up more substantive non-fasting food in favor of less filling fasting food; THERE GIVING UP OUR FAVORITE SINS AND TRANSGRESSIONS AND PRACTICING THE OPPOSING VIRTUES. SPIRITUAL FASTING MEANS FASTING WITH ALL THE POWERS AND CAPABILITIES OF OUR SOUL, AS WELL AS ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR BODY.

Let THE MIND FAST, not permitting empty and bad thoughts; let THE HEART FAST, refraining from sinful feelings; let our fast, directing all our desires and intentions to the one thing needful; let THE TONGUE fast from shameful speech and slander; for what good is it if we abstain from poultry and fish, yet gnaw and devour our brethren with our evil tongue? "WHOEVER SLANDERS, DEVOURS THE FLESH OF HIS BROTHER,GNAWS THE FLESH OF HIS NEIGHBOR," says Saint John Chrysostom. Let OUR EYES fast, learning not to run after beautiful faces, not gaze at someone else’s beauty; for the food of the eyes is contemplation. It harms fasting and subverts the salvation of the entire soul if it is lawless and not permitted.

It would be very foolish to abstain with the mouth through fasting from foods and even from permitted food, WHILE ALLOWING THE EYES EVEN WHAT IS NOT PERMITTED. "Your are not eating meat–do not consume sensuality with your eyes" (Saint John Chrysostom). Let your EARS FAST, not heeding any gossip or slander. Let the HANDS ALSO FAST, purifying themselves from stealing that which belongs to another, and acquisitiveness; and let THE FEET FAST, ceasing to run to disreputable spectacles and soul-damaging festivities, to seductive and shameful dances. "You are fasting," says Saint John Chrysostom, "let it be expressed by our very deeds. What deeds, you may ask. If you see a poor man, give him alms; If you see an enemy make peace with him; If you see a friend doing praiseworthy deeds, do not envy him; if you see a beautiful woman, pass by."

In brief, THE ESSENCE OF FASTING, is expressed in the following Church hymn: "If thou dost fast from food, O my soul, yet dost not cleanse thyself from passions, in vain dost thou rejoice over thine abstinence. For if thou seekest not amendment, as a liar thou art hateful in God’s sight, resembling the wicked spirits, who eat not at all. Render not the fast worthless by sinning, but firmly resist all wicked impulses. Picture thyself that thou are standing beside the Crucified Savior, or rather, that thou art thyself crucified with Him Who was Crucified for thee; and cry out to Him: Remember me O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom. (Cheesefare Week, Wednesday Matins, Aposticha, 1st stichera).

This is true fasting!
If, beloved, we try to combine spiritual fasting with bodily fasting, then our fast will be "true and acceptable." (First Week of Great Lent, Monday Vespers, Aposticha, 1st stichera). [Source: Orthodox Heritage)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George