THE VALUE OF 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.

THE LORD SAID:

"Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites,
with a sad countenance. For they may appear to men to
be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
reward. But you, when YOU FAST, ANOINT YOUR HEAD
AND WASH YOUR FACE, SO THAT YOU DO NOT APPEAR
TO MEN TO BE FASTING, but to your Father Who sees
in secret will reward you openly" [Matthew 6:16-18].

Keeping "a sad countenance" while fasting, so that everyone can see how one is suffering, is mere external display. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rejects such hypocrisy. For the one who fasts, the compassion of God outshines physical discomfort: JOY OVERSHADOWS SORROW. Thus, during seasons of fasting, the hymns of the Orthodox Church call the faithful to wash and anoint their faces. There is no ‘Ash Wednesday’ in Orthodox Christian practice. And fasting is not merely abstaining from eating. Physical fasting works TOGETHER WITH SPIRITUAL FASTING, or SELF-DENIAL: IT IS A LIBERATION OF THE SPIRIT FROM ITS VOLUNTARY ENSLAVEMENT TO SINFUL PASSIONS. FASTING IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, NOT TO IMPRESS PEOPLE AROUND US.

See what our Lord Christ says "when you fast" and, therefore, He exhorts His followers to fast but to fast sincerely and without drawing attention unto themselves when they do. He Himself fasted forty days and nights. " Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He HAD FASTED FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, AFTERWARD HE WAS HUNGRY" [Matthew 4:1-2]. He condemns hypocrisy and display of one’s fasting. And when His disciples lacked faith and "could not cure the man’s son" [Matthew 17:16], they asked Him, "why could we not cast it out?" His answer to them was, "this kind does not go out EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND FASTING" [Matthew 17:21]. Prayer and fasting are inseparable but they must be done with humility, faith and always for the glory of God.

However, not everyone is able to fast. There are Christians who are "weak in the faith", Christians who are immature conscience and wisdom who may attach primary importance to secondary matters, such as foods and religious festivals. The Holy Apostles reminds us, "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats ONLY vegetables. Let NOT him who eats despise him who does NOT eat, and let NOT him who does NOT eat judge him who eats for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls…He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks" [Romans 14:1-6]. The rule of fasting is not the same for everyone. Some are strong and able to fast much, while others have weak bodies and fast less.

Fasting is accompanied with philanthropy to one’s fellow man. By depriving oneself of meat, fish, eggs, or milk, etc. for a short time, foodstuff that the poor could not afford to eat, you are able to feed the hungry and homeless. Even philanthropy or charity must be done with dignity, anonymously, with meekness, and secretly if it is to have any spiritual value. Fasting is a strong bridle which prevents the body from being stimulated by sinful passions or desires. When we fast, our mind masters our body and directs it as it wishes. Gluttony and indifference to fasting reinforces our carnal nature and we fall into sins, because the reason and the voice of conscience are weakened. Our souls are covered with a dark cloud of sin, some little and others much. When we fast, this cloud disperses and the soul’s enlightenment by God, just as the earth is lit by the sun when the sky is cleared of clouds.

No one should underestimate either the significance or the power of fasting. Fasting and temperance are the foundation upon which the other virtues are built. He who does not fast hinders his soul’s progress. Fasting, together with prayer, has the power to cleanse the soul from the passions and vices. Concerning this Saint Basil the Great says: "REPENTANCE WITHOUT FASTING IS FUTILE." That is, he who repents for his sins but does not fast, will not acquire the work and fruit of repentance. Faith, repentance, prayer, fasting, humility, tears, are not only virtues but indispensable to our salvation. When during prayer the eyes fill with tears of repentance and tender-feeling, let the person to whom this happens know that God is taking care of his soul and is healing its hidden diseases. These tears absolve sins. The great Saints wept often.

The fasting seasons of our Holy Orthodox Church are unique opportunities to reconcile with God Almighty. It is our journey back home to our heavenly Father. It is a time to reconcile with our enemies. Our souls must be free from hatred, malice or revenge. "The soul cannot find peace when it is filled with anger and strife. "Strife is a work of the devil," reconciliation is the work of God. Peace isone of the most precious of God’s gifts. With the arrival of reconciliation, darkness disappears from the souls of those who until then have been filled with spite; and the peace of God, the Light of God, and the joy of God settle there. God’s grace descends on the reconciled, and they feel as if they were in Paradise." Remember when we recite the Lord’s Prayer what we say? "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…"

[To be continued}

____________
"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