Time Of Freedom And Spiritual Joy
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any”
Every year Orthodox Christians around the world welcome a wonderful, joyful season — the season of Great Lent. It is a time of joy for we become free from all unnecessary things we’re so attached to. Often we forget the meaning of our lives, by getting distracted by other things. Just (take a moment to) think, how much we care for our bodies and how we love to pamper ourselves. If only we consumed the food that is required! But we constantly abuse our bodies by stuffing ourselves to the full and overeating. And how many of our psychological needs, such as communication and information exchange, depend on the Internet and social media! How much of our God-given strength, time, money, and talents turn to nothing, bringing us neither joy nor satisfaction, plunging us into the gloom, weakening the mind, will, and emotions.
We’re unable to focus on the main thing, as our disorderly, indiscriminate desires alongside with vanity, replace the true needs of the soul with false ones.
But the season of Great Lent is coming, and the needs of the body are no longer in command, for they’re governed by our minds which are in turn should be governed by our will in conformity with the will of God.
Through fasting we commit ourselves to the Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).
We must remember that the body is closely connected to the soul, therefore in danger are those who don’t use fasting and prayer together, since they’re more likely to do self-harm. It often happens that a person wants to wake up early to go to church, but the flesh objects loudly against it in its desire to stay in bed. If we let that happen, it will quickly become a habit and soon, it will overpower us. Once we've overcome it and forced ourselves to get up with the first alarm and bow our heads in prayer, we succeed against the weakness of the flesh.
Many decide to fast for sport, some are eager to test their strength; others want to detox and lose weight… As a result, they rely only on themselves, which doesn’t end well. The flesh is weak, and even if they manage to complete the fast, exhausted and annoyed, they receive no joy… We must appeal to God for help: “For without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Lent is a time of freedom from sin, for “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Abstaining from sinful habits, alcohol, diverse and delicious food, from entertainment, television, the Internet, and idle talk, we can finally examine our hearts and see our imperfection in the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
Thus, soon, our life is going to change. Unnecessary things steal our time and energy. Instead it’s very important to dedicate this time to Ecclesiastes. As we read The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus, The Philokalia the teachings of Abba Dorotheus, the works of Theophan the Recluse and other Church Fathers, we should think about how to apply their priceless guidelines to our spiritual life.
Lent rewards us physically and spiritually when we live a life of faith and repent of our sins, receiving Holy Communion at Divine Liturgy as often as possible. At confession all sins a person repents of are forgiven when they ask for forgiveness from God and renew their commitment to living a life according to God’s will. Taking Holy Communion, we eat and drink Christ’s true Body and Blood in communion with God the Father through Christ, unto the remission of sins, healing of soul and body, and the life everlasting. Jesus’ eucharistic presence within us keeps us from future sins and gives us strength to do good deeds.
(1 Corinthians 6:12).
Every year Orthodox Christians around the world welcome a wonderful, joyful season — the season of Great Lent. It is a time of joy for we become free from all unnecessary things we’re so attached to. Often we forget the meaning of our lives, by getting distracted by other things. Just (take a moment to) think, how much we care for our bodies and how we love to pamper ourselves. If only we consumed the food that is required! But we constantly abuse our bodies by stuffing ourselves to the full and overeating. And how many of our psychological needs, such as communication and information exchange, depend on the Internet and social media! How much of our God-given strength, time, money, and talents turn to nothing, bringing us neither joy nor satisfaction, plunging us into the gloom, weakening the mind, will, and emotions.
We’re unable to focus on the main thing, as our disorderly, indiscriminate desires alongside with vanity, replace the true needs of the soul with false ones.
But the season of Great Lent is coming, and the needs of the body are no longer in command, for they’re governed by our minds which are in turn should be governed by our will in conformity with the will of God.
Through fasting we commit ourselves to the Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).
We must remember that the body is closely connected to the soul, therefore in danger are those who don’t use fasting and prayer together, since they’re more likely to do self-harm. It often happens that a person wants to wake up early to go to church, but the flesh objects loudly against it in its desire to stay in bed. If we let that happen, it will quickly become a habit and soon, it will overpower us. Once we've overcome it and forced ourselves to get up with the first alarm and bow our heads in prayer, we succeed against the weakness of the flesh.
Many decide to fast for sport, some are eager to test their strength; others want to detox and lose weight… As a result, they rely only on themselves, which doesn’t end well. The flesh is weak, and even if they manage to complete the fast, exhausted and annoyed, they receive no joy… We must appeal to God for help: “For without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Lent is a time of freedom from sin, for “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Abstaining from sinful habits, alcohol, diverse and delicious food, from entertainment, television, the Internet, and idle talk, we can finally examine our hearts and see our imperfection in the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
Thus, soon, our life is going to change. Unnecessary things steal our time and energy. Instead it’s very important to dedicate this time to Ecclesiastes. As we read The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus, The Philokalia the teachings of Abba Dorotheus, the works of Theophan the Recluse and other Church Fathers, we should think about how to apply their priceless guidelines to our spiritual life.
Lent rewards us physically and spiritually when we live a life of faith and repent of our sins, receiving Holy Communion at Divine Liturgy as often as possible. At confession all sins a person repents of are forgiven when they ask for forgiveness from God and renew their commitment to living a life according to God’s will. Taking Holy Communion, we eat and drink Christ’s true Body and Blood in communion with God the Father through Christ, unto the remission of sins, healing of soul and body, and the life everlasting. Jesus’ eucharistic presence within us keeps us from future sins and gives us strength to do good deeds.
What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?
Our Lord Jesus Christ introduced fasting: “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15).
The Holy Apostles and early Christians fasted: “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3).
But God says not every fast is acceptable: “‘Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness” (Isaiah 58:3-4).
No surprise, during Lent arguments happen, since Lent is a time when the secrets of the heart lay bare, we have to do all we can to live at peace with everyone: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).
Self-praise and humiliation of others are unacceptable: “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat” (Romans 14:3).
When you fast, don’t make it obvious: “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
In order for God to accept our fasting, we need to ask for forgiveness from one another: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23–24).
Lent is a time to do good deeds: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday” (Isaiah 58:6–10).
After Lent has ended and we repented of our sins and committed to living a life according to God’s will, we can see the meaning of life and fill our hearts with joy!
The Holy Apostles and early Christians fasted: “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3).
But God says not every fast is acceptable: “‘Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness” (Isaiah 58:3-4).
No surprise, during Lent arguments happen, since Lent is a time when the secrets of the heart lay bare, we have to do all we can to live at peace with everyone: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).
Self-praise and humiliation of others are unacceptable: “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat” (Romans 14:3).
When you fast, don’t make it obvious: “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
In order for God to accept our fasting, we need to ask for forgiveness from one another: “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23–24).
Lent is a time to do good deeds: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday” (Isaiah 58:6–10).
After Lent has ended and we repented of our sins and committed to living a life according to God’s will, we can see the meaning of life and fill our hearts with joy!