Spiritual Fasting
April 9
(Word on Fasting, and on Slander, and on Judgment)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
April 9
(Word on Fasting, and on Slander, and on Judgment)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Some of the simple Christians think that fasting must consist in abstinence from food and drink, and only this. Not to eat fish during the fast or not to partake of oil and wine — by this, in their opinion, the whole commandment of fasting is fulfilled. But is it so? No. To fast bodily, indeed, is necessary, but with bodily abstinence there must necessarily be joined also spiritual fasting. Thus also the Holy Church teaches. She says: “Brethren, let us fast bodily, let us fast also spiritually.”
What then is this spiritual fasting, and why is it necessary?
The Holy Fathers define it thus: “If you fast, show it by your works. What works? Seeing a poor man, have mercy; be reconciled with your enemy; do not envy a man who is in prosperity; do not look upon a woman shining with beauty. Fast without hypocrisy; fast also with the eyes, and with the heart, and with the ears, and with the hands, and with all your members… Restrain the hands from taking what does not belong to you, the feet from going to spectacles; hold back the hearing from listening to slander and falsehood, and let your mouth also fast, refraining from judgment” (Prologue, April 9).
Such, brethren, is spiritual fasting. It is necessary for us, because without it bodily fasting loses all meaning. “What profit,” it says, “is there in thinning the body by abstinence, when the spirit swells with pride? What praise shall we receive for paleness from fasting, when we grow pale from envy? What virtue is it not to drink wine, but to be intoxicated with anger and hatred?” (St. Jerome, Epistle 14). — “For nothing is it,” it is said in the Prologue, “not to eat meat or fish, but to devour the flesh of brethren by slander” (Prologue, April 9).
Therefore, fasting bodily, let us fast also spiritually, that is, let us make the outward acts of fasting correspond with the inward. Cleansing the body by abstinence, let us also cleanse the mind from vain thoughts, and the heart from evil desires. Putting the body to death by fasting, let us also put to death the passions: anger, evil lust, greed for gain, and suchlike evil. Adorning the body with bodily fasting, let us also adorn the soul with virtues: mercy, meekness, humility, reconciliation with enemies, almsgiving.
This is the true fasting, both pleasing to God and therefore saving for us. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
