Take heed
This great lent is the fasting of the Lord Himself. But why do we, ourselves, fast?
Do we fast to be less weighty? Or to be more graceful? Or to let our digestive system function in a better way? Or to be more healthy? Then it should have been a medical issue, not a religious one.
I do not think that the church cares much about our elegance, or even our physical strength. Pope Kyrillos was not elegant. Pope Shenouda is suffering of many troubles since many years nevertheless he is a man of many prayers, fastings and services. Many of our fathers the monks were skinny or even fat, and that does not mean anything for anyone. Even many spiritual exercises like being vigilant or doing metanias are not always good for the power of the body or its elegance. I do not mean that the body is nothing to take care of. Saint Paul said "no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it". But I am speaking about fasting, not about the body.
Dear ones, the Lord is speaking about something very different. He is speaking about the goal of life. That is why today's Gospel began saying "take heed", and it went on to speak about charitable deeds, prayer and fasting. Because while we exercise these things, we may do them with a twisted goal. Then when you do your fasting for the benefit of your body, or for others to see you, then look out, because you are already losing. Then you torture your body for a trivial reward.But, my beloved, fast for your dear self, that the Lord may heal it from its illnesses, infirmities and failures. Fast that God may have mercy and lift up the heaviness of your sins.
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