THE FOLLOWING LETTER was sent during the Great Fast, but as we have a fast in June it may help some readers to approach that with some greater resolve.
“… There is a degree of sweetness in the soul (of even one so inexperienced and sinful as me) in saying the Jesus Prayer, the Holy Mysteries, Liturgy, in reading spiritual books (especially the Holy Scriptures and Lives of the Saints... no wonder everyone recommended them), however I find no discernible spiritual benefit or peace in fasting. I don’t understand fasting, or am doing it the wrong way, or more precisely with a wrong heart or intention. I’m not sure, how are demons driven off with “prayer and fasting” as it says in the Gospels, what role does fasting play? How does one determine how much they should fast? How does one do it in a spiritual way and not just in a kind of superficial diet way? Any advice or guidance in this area would be much appreciated, I feel I am lost and am not making the most of Lent.” A.F., U.S.A.
RE FASTING: I think you have got off to a bad start. It is true that through prayer, Liturgy, etc, we can experience a certain sweetness through God’s mercies, but these things are not to be done simply for the “feel good” factor. Otherwise, when that sweetness diminishes, we will give up. At various times, to support us, encourage us, sustain us, etc, God permits that sweetness, but there are also times when He withdraws it, because then we need to grow. Look at the story of the Israelites in the desert. They get out of Egypt and they are filled with gladness. Miriam gets excited with her cymbals, etc. But it wears off, and after a while they are wishing they were back in Egypt. Why? - because they had forgotten their journey’s end. For them, the Promised Land: for us becoming god by Grace.
Fasting is an important help in taking us towards journey’s end. I will only list a few things:
A) The first commandment given to man by God was to fast - Genesis 3:3. Adam’s disobedience led to the expulsion from Paradise, our first step back is obedience, and so by fasting we strive to be obedient to the ordinances which the Saviour has given us through His Church.
B) It is also a discipline … it trains us not to live according to our appetites.
C) It humbles the flesh, and as the hymns of the Church continuously remind us we need to cultivate the soul rather than the flesh, because the latter continually draws us back to the earth. Perhaps in this day and age, these last two (B & C) are particularly important when instead of eating regular meals, many people seem to be continually snacking.
D) It humbles the soul too. After a while you find how weak you are, not being able to resist a snack, or something that is not fasting, and you come to a little understanding of just how frail you are spiritually. If you cannot go without milk in your coffee, how far you are from laying down your life for the Beloved!
E) It places you in the company of all the Orthodox - all the conscientious Orthodox are keeping a fast and by fasting with them we align ourselves with them fully, and remember, of the 8 people saved in the Ark, it is only reported of Noah that he was righteous yet the seven were saved from the flood because they were with him. And by company of the Orthodox, I do not just mean horizontally - all those living throughout the world now - but vertically too (and perhaps more importantly) - all those who have gone before us in all ages past, and all those who might come after us.
F) It helps our confession of Orthodoxy penetrate into every aspect of our life. There is a great temptation, especially in our modern secular society, to confine religious practice to a few “religious” observances. By keeping the fast, we let it in even to the extent that it regulates what we eat & drink.
G) In doing the above, it also continually reminds us of our responsibilities before God. It is generally easy to confine Him to a few minutes at the very start and end of the day, and then live our lives as if we were materialists like everyone else, but by trying to fast we are constantly reminded of Him.
Someone spiritual could perhaps improve this list immeasurably and add things of greater spiritual import, but I hope that these thoughts at least give you a little pointer. For an excellent homily on fasting, by no less a figure than St Basil the Great, go to the Synod in Resistance website, http://www.synodinresistance.org/index-en.html Go to “New on the Site,” and there under the date 4/3/09 you will find a link to the article.
