“THE GREAT FAST IS A SEASON OF UNSEEN WARFARE…”

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

"The Great Fast is a Season of Unseen Warfare, of invisible martyrdom,
when by our ascetic dying to sin we seek to emulate the self-offering
of the martyrs."

Orthodox Christians understand the profound spiritual goal of the Great Fast which is to triumph over evil and sin. To be willing to fight to the point of martyrdom. The Unseen Warfare is real and the enemy, Satan, who hates humanity, seeks our destruction and annihilation. The evil one will never rest until we are totally separated from our Almighty God. The devil and his angels explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. This cruel enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin.

Sin is called amarteeah (Gk. αμαρτία) and means to miss the mark, to fail to one’s purpose, to error, Sin is also referred as eggleema (Gk.
έγκλημα) which means an accusation, charge, crime and indictment. Sin is breaking God’s Law. When one breaks God’s Law he or she, knowingly, or unknowingly, is committing a crime against God’s Commandments. It is very similar to man’s laws and anyone who breaks those laws is considered to be a criminal. Criminals are captured, arrested by the police for their crime and he/she will be taken to a civil court to face the judge who will then, if found guilty of committing a crime, will be incarcerated.

Spiritual offences or sins, when committed by us are not dealt immediately by the Heavenly Judge. Our God is just and full of love and compassion for He does not seek the death of the sinner but to repent and live. When one commits a transgression it is committed before Him since He is everywhere and sees and knows all things. God does need witnesses, He witnesses everything that we think, feel and act. We have no secrets from Him and, of course, we have absolutely no alibi and no excuse for sins committed. Our Lord Jesus Christ established the Sacraments (Mysteria) knowing how weak man is and how susceptible he is to sin and, therefore, upon his repentance, would be forgiven, healed, restored and reconciled with His Divine Master and Savior. The Church according to Orthodox Tradition is a hospital where those who have been wounded, those who are ill come to be healed by the Physician of our souls and bodies, our Savior Jesus Christ. The Church is a place for reconciliation. The Church reminds us of the command of Christ, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First reconcile to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" {Matthew 5:23-24).

In today’s world it is no longer appropriate or fashionable to speak of sin, even among some contemporary "Christians." Some of them claim that there is no such thing as sin. That anyone speaking of sin is a phanatic. Yet the holy Apostle Paul writes: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" [Romans 6:23]. Those who are freely enslaved to sin are not even aware of it and do not know enough to be "ashamed." But now having received the Gospel–one knows all actions have serious consequences: sin bears fruit of shame and ends in the second "death". Sin’s reward is "death," but God’s "gift" in Christ is "eternal life." We cannot earn ETERNAL LIFE. We do, however, participate in it, and must not become listless in our Christian life. Salvation is a process of transformation from sinner to saint. We are saved through Baptism, and we are being saved, that is, being transformed by the Uncreated grace of God to be like Him, in anticipation of eternal life.

The Great Fast is also a time for cleansing and as Saint Paul says, "Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" [Galatians 5:16]. The way of life in the Spirit, the way of faith and love, is expressed through service to God and one another. The holy Apostles mentioned that "the works of the flesh are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…" [Galatians 5:19-21]. By "the flesh" (v. 16) Saint Paul does not mean the body. The word "flesh" (Gk. "σάρκα") here is a general term for evil actions, the depraved will, the earthly mind, the slothful and careless soul-things that are under one’s control, not part of human nature. This "flesh" is crucified with Christ. It is not human nature that is mortified, but its evil deeds.

Holy and Great Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, repentance, vigil and abstaining from all evil: thoughts, passions, and actions. It is also a time to "Walk in the Spirit…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" [Galatians 5:25).  The way of life in the Spirit, the way of faith and love" (Galatians 5:13-15).  According to Saint Basil the Great "the fast is a kind of protection for the soul, a reliable companion for the flesh, the weapon of hte valiant people, the school for the ascetics.  It repels temptations, it anoints the ascetics in piety…The fast sends up a prayer before heaven, being doen as if with wings, before the mountain of Ascension.  The fast is a complement of homes, the mother of health, the tutor of the youth, an adornment of the elders, the good companion of travelers, a reliable companion of those living together."  Also, "The fast is the weapon for protection against demons.  Our Lord teaches His disciples, "this kind does not go away, except THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING" [Mark 9:29]. "Prayer and fasting" are essential expressions of the life of faith.

The unseen or invisible spiritual warfare we are battling is against our adversary Satan who has declared a war on us and seeks our demise and death. As any soldier going off to war must be trained and prepared to fight against his enemies, so too, we must be trained and prepared to fight our greatest of all enemies, the devil. Holy Lent, if we truly use this opportunity wisely, can be, spiritually most beneficial, to become strong and ready to face this combat and to win the battle. What is needed from us is the resolve, the faith and courage to confront this cunning and dangerous enemy who can be defeated by the grace of God. Everyone must listen to our Savior Who says, "this kind does NOT go away, except THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING." Saint John Chrysostom states, "The fast restrains the body and bridles disorderly desires. And Saint Isaac the Syrian writes: "Fasting is the weapon prepared by God for us…Fasting is general peace of soul and body, a serene life, a consistent pattern of behavior, a way of life, pleasing God and grieving the enemy."

Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life,
Give me not a spirit of laziness, of aimless curiosity,
A spirit of lust for power over others and of vain talk.

Rather, grace me, Your servant,
With the Spirit of purity, humility, patience and love.

Yes, O Lord King,
Grant me discernment to see my own faults
And not to judge and condemn my fellow human beings.

For You are Blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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