Father Andrew: Such people perceive the world from a material
standpoint. You can say that we fast to make us feel better spiritually. It is
difficult for a soul to bear the flesh of a body. The soul starves for freedom.
At the same time we constantly suppress its thrive for freedom. Our
souls need fast to “have a rest”.
People should learn how to collect
themself, how to control their wishes and how to restrain from their desires.
Food restriction is a fight against our passions. You know, people should humble
themselves somehow. We need this. Fast is not just a senseless diet. It helps us to reach our
salvation, for the Lord says: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer
and fasting” (Matthew, 17:21).

While speaking to such people, you can provide them
with some examples from the sphere of medicine. Our body needs such rest in
order not to strain itself and not to be overwhelmed. By the way, if you pray,
you will find the right words to explain.

Perhaps, we are not ready to pray attentively and
wholeheartedly yet. To restrict ourselves, to come to the church, to confess,
to partake of the Holy Communion – these are what we really need today and what
we really can do. I think, you should try to somehow approach the
heart of a person. Do not try to persuade him with some eternal words, but try
to understand his inner condition, his desires and worries. Here we need to
find suitable words to explain why it is important to find God. The words which
can give him hope in God and His help.
Of course you
cannot tell a person to die, to
let himself be crucified, be nailed to the cross. He will say, “I do not
want to die, I want to live”. This is why we should speak about the help the
Lord provides us with, for He really consoles us. At the same time, a person
should not stop. We should always look for new view of life and new ways for “transfiguration”.
These can be found through humility, sorrows and diseases.
The church
educates people wisely. We should always take into account the life conditions
and physical abilities of people. Otherwise they can take on spiritual feats, which they cannot
bear. This can lead to despair, which makes people give everything up. We
should learn how to find the golden middle, as well as the narrow way, leading to
the Kingdom of Heaven.
By Father Andrew Lemeshonok, December 9, 2016
CONVERSATION