When God
created Adam and Eve, He gave them two commandments: (1) to tend and keep the
garden, and (2) to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. Both of these
commandments were ways of practising asceticism. There were further instances
of asceticism in the Old Testament, for example, with Jonah and the Ninevites.
In the New
Testament, we read about the ascetical life of St John the Baptist. Christ
Himself fasted for forty days prior to starting his ministry, and at other
times, he would retreat at night to pray. He had stated that his followers were
to fast as well (Matthew 9:15). The early Christians also gave emphasis to
fasting and prayer (e.g., Acts 10:30, 13:2-3, 27:21). Asceticism was taken up
in full fervour by those who left the cities to go to the deserts as monks,
nuns or hermits. Countless Saints have been formed by the ascetic tradition,
which has been preserved in the Orthodox Church.
But what is
asceticism? Asceticism consists of spiritual labours that include prayer,
fasting, prostrations, vigils, hardships or canons of various sorts, and
contemplation. Acts of asceticism combine physical undertakings in conjunction
with focusing the heart and mind towards God. Why fast? Why subject the body to
such exercises? How does asceticism help? And is it just for monks and nuns?
The purpose of our lives is deification, which means to become saints. In order
to be deified, we need to be illumined with Christ. And in order to be
illumined, we need to be cleansed from our spiritual stains; those blotches on
our souls separate us from the love of God.
Those stains
are our sins; our bad habits and evil inclinations. Ascetic practices are the
methods of cleansing our hearts. They are our gymnasium; the training program
for the spiritual Olympics, which is the great and final judgement. They are
the true and trusted method of cleansing the body, mind, heart and soul.
Asceticism is the antidote to the idolatries of materialism and egotism that
pervades our contemporary life.
Asceticism is
not the goal of the spiritual life but simply the method. Asceticism is not
about building “points” or achievements of spiritual feats; such an approach
often leads to pride. Instead, it is the product of our repentance. We remember
the example of Zacchaeus, whose repentance was realised though his almsgiving
and hence his personal deprivation. And just as an athlete requires a coach to
guide them to train and preparing correctly, any ascetical endeavour requires
spiritual coaching. These coaches are our spiritual fathers.
Without such
guidance, our ascetical efforts are likely to miss the mark. Whilst monks and
nuns have very specific methods of asceticism, we too can benefit from the
ascetical phronema, or mindset. We can try and live simply, without excesses.
We can try to observe the prescribed fasts of the Church. We can attend Church
services as much as possible. We can practise almsgiving. We can familiarise
ourselves with the prayer rope (κοµποσκοίνι) and the Jesus
Prayer. And as stated, these efforts need to be guided by our spiritual father.
When done
properly, asceticism gives us the wings to soar into the embrace of God’s love.
We thus pray that the good Lord inspires and guides us to espouse an
appropriate ascetical phronema. Amen.
Source: https://www.lychnos.org/why-does-the-orthodox-church-value-asceticism/
CONVERSATION