“THIS KIND DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND FASTING” Matthew 17:21

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.

"THIS KIND DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND
FASTING" [Matthew 17:21]

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking to His disciples
says:
"This kind does not go out except by PRAYER
and FASTING" [Matthew 17:21].

The Exorcism which Jesus performed requires sincere "FAITH" combined with "PRAYER" and "FASTING".

Our Holy Orthodox Church teaches that fasting, and prayer are considered inseparable, meaning they are two sides of the same spiritual practice; fasting is not truly meaningful without accompanying prayer, and prayer is enhanced when combined with the discipline of bodily abstinence represented by fasting, both working together harmoniously to achieve a more profound spiritual connection with God through sincere humility and genuine repentance.

People usually, when thinking of fasting, believe it is about abstaining from certain kinds of foods. Fasting is a tool to focus or concentrate the mind and heart on spiritual matters or discipline, which is best achieved through dedicated prayer. Saint Paul speaks also of sexual abstinence as well. "Do not deprive one another EXCEPT WITH CONSENT for a time, and you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" [ 1 Corinthians 7:5]. Therefore, fasting includes other aspects of having a spiritual life. It includes one’s behavior or conduct, one’s thoughts, one’s words, one’s desires or passions and most certainly the necessity of repentance.

The practicing Christian believer must be in control of every aspect of his/her life at all times. The aim, of course, is living Christ daily unhindered and removing every kind of temptation and spiritual obstacle standing in the way of our success. Both fasting and prayer are viewed as avenues for REPENTANCE, allowing one to examine one’s life and to seek forgiveness from God. The Holy Scripture reveals the importance of both fasting and prayer. Jesus Himself "fasted for 40 days and 40 nights," [Matthew 4:2].

Our Lord Christ reverses Israel’s dallying with temptation in the wilderness. The Israelites were tested 40 years in the wilderness, during which they were disloyal and disobedient. So God humbled them by letting them go hungry, then feeding them with manna, all to help them realize their DEPENDENCY UPON Him [Deuteronomy 8:2-3]. Jesus is tested with hunger for 40 days, but He DOES NOT SIN. Jesus’ answers to Satan are from Deuteronomy, and all of them call for LOYALTY TO GOD: WE ARE TO LIVE BY THAT WHICH GOD COMMANDS. Contrary, to the opinions of His detractors, in His Messiahship Jesus actually fulfills the Law. He is the LOYAL and OBEDIENT Son Who triumphs over temptations. We are to emulate His example and also triumph over the wicked temptations and snares of the devil.

To accomplish anything good takes a sincere and pure faith, total commitment, total discipline, and courage. The Orthodox Christian must never waiver or be distracted from his or her goal and spiritual objective. We must have Christ on our sights at all times no matter what the conditions are. The Orthodox Christian has the Church’s Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture to guide him or her in achieving sound spiritual life. Our Lord Himself tells us how to fast when He says, "Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that 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 is in the secret place; and 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 more external display. Jesus 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 watch 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 FASTINGS 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.

The Holy Fathers of the Church teach that UNCEASING PRAYER IS A PROPER GOAL, for spiritual growth comes through such discipline. For centuries, Christians have used the "Jesus Prayer" or "Prayer of the heart" as a way to pray unceasingly from the heart: "O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER." This is encouraged by the Holy Apostle Paul who also writes: "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU" [1 Thessalonians 5:17-18].

Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ teaches us the correct and acceptable way to pray. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house, for everyone who EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED" [Luke 18:10-14]. Our Lord Christ reverses the expected conclusion in the eyes of God, it is the tax collector who is JUSTIFIED because of HUMILITY and CONTRITION. The Pharisee is CONDEMNED because of his self-righteousness and pride.

In conclusion the Orthodox Christian must be aware to avoid all spiritual pitfalls and to fast and pray but to do so according to our Lord Christ. It is wonderful and inspiring to hear more and more people speak about the importance of prayer and having a prayer life but in order to please God the believer must follow Christ’s example and His guidance in both prayer and fasting.

Let us pray to the Lord

Kyrie eleison

+In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, our God
You have given Your peace to mankind;
And the gift of the All-Holy Spirit
You have sent to your Disciples and Apostles,
Opening their lips with fiery tongues by Your power.
Open also the lips of us sinners
And teaches how and for what we should pray.
Lord, govern our life
For You are the calm harbor for those who are storm-tossed.
And make known to us the way we should go.
Renew a right spirit within us,
And establish our spiritual instability
With Your governing Spirit.
Each day, may we be guided brightly by Your Good Spirit
Toward what is beneficial for us,
Being empowered to observe Your Commandments,
To remember always Your glorious presence,
Which leads us to seek the salvation accomplished
by You for mankind,
And not to be deceived by the corrupting pleasures of this world.
Strengthen us, Lord, to desire rather of future blessings,
For You are truly Blessed and praised among Your Saints
Unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ, our God
Have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
[A Prayer of Saint Basil the Great]

_____
"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