This
article is not about Ghandi and the independence of India; is not about hunger
strikes and the upholding of civil rights; but it is an attempt to restore to
its former heights an overlooked tool for spiritual development‚ recommended by
generations upon generations of Holy Fathers and spiritual elders.
Upon
hearing the word “fast” today‚ one doesn’t think of freedom‚ on the contrary‚
the discipline of fasting is more associated with coercion‚ restriction and
limitation of choices. This is the primary reason why so many people do not
even consider fasting in their development as Christian.
From a
material point of view however this is what fasting is: we abstain from certain
foods‚ or even all foods‚ on certain days. This nearsighted view however is the
main culprit in our misunderstanding of this exercise because it only pertains
to our material side‚ to our flesh that needs nourishment to survive. Man
however is more than just organic matter and his universe expands beyond the
bounds of the physical reality into the spiritual realm. If we fail to grasp
this important aspect‚ then sure‚ fasting is really unnecessary. But if fasting
was so unnecessary than why did Jesus Christ bother to fast in the wilderness
for 40 days before He started His visible works in the world? He probably knew
something about fasting‚ something that we have a tendency to ignore because
its discipline is uncomfortable to our pampered bodies.
We mainly
reject fasting because we have perverted the purpose of food from nutrition to
pleasure. This is not something new‚ this has happened long time ago in
paradise with Adam and Eve that ate out of curiosity and hope for life
fulfillment without God‚ not out of hunger.
From there on there is an entire history of food abuse all the way to
our days. Today we live in a society where 90% of food commercials on TV
advertise “junk-food”‚ food that is good only to make us feel happy and satisfy
cravings‚ bringing no dietary value: pure pleasure‚ no nutrition.
Giving up
something so enjoyable is very hard‚ even if it is not good for you‚ let alone
if you can justify it as a necessity. Sometimes however‚ giving up something we
like might be the best thing to do. Giving up something occupying so much on
one’s mind opens tremendous opportunities to concentrate on other important
aspects of our life. Freed from the agonizing decision about what restaurant we
will go next‚ one can pay more attention to other thing that matter‚ like for
instance our relationship with God that is blatantly ignored while we spend so
much time imagining the next culinary delight.
A perfect
example of the fruits of such spiritual exercise is St. John the Forerunner and
Baptist of the Lord‚ the very protector of our parish. We see him depicted in some of his icons
dressed in a torn camel hair robe with a modest and wild appearance but‚
surprisingly‚ bearing wings. The wings are an illustration of his ascetic life‚
a life spent in complete obedience to God‚ of renunciation to any bodily
pleasures‚ save the bare necessities‚ that made him close to the life of the
angels. The wings are also a symbol of his freedom from all that is material
and the great spiritual mobility that he has received from God as a reward for
his ascetic life.
God did
not force St. John to accomplish any of his ascetic endeavors; John has freely
chosen to incline the balance of his life to God‚ and take flight towards
heavens‚ unrestrained by the chains of sin or matter.
When
Christ was tempted in the desert with food he replied to the devil: “It is
written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone‚ but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God.’” (Mat. 4:4). Our souls need this food‚ our souls need to
listen to the saving commandments coming from the mouth of God and distributed
by the Church to all of us. If we understand this we also understand the
discipline of Great Lent is not restrictive‚ but liberating‚ opening upon us a
realm of possibilities that were buried under heavy layers of gluttony and
self-gratification. True freedom lies not in freely choosing the next meal‚ but
in being released from the bonds of sin and following the will of God in all
things. “For when you were the servants of sin‚ you were free from
righteousness. But what fruit had you then from those things of which you are
now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now set free from sin
and become servants to God‚ you have your fruit unto holiness‚ and as your end‚
life everlasting.” (6:20-2’)
The Great
Lent is a journey through the history of mankind‚ a journey from slavery to
freedom in which we are called to join not as observers‚ but as full
participants‚ assuming upon ourselves the responsibility that our new life in
Christ is bringing to the table. Growing wings is a choice‚ let us choose
right.
Have a
Blessed Lent!
Source: http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2012/02/fasting-for-freedom-or-growing-wings-for-god/
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