More than Fasting

Within the life of the Church asceticism is not, and never has been, limited to fasting.  Rather fasting typifies for us a eucharistic way of life, that is a life of personal love.  Yannaras describes this love in frankly sexual and erotic terms since

as the true sexual relationship and intercourse is a complete participation in body and soul, and an offering of oneself, so also the eros of God, the true relationship and “intercourse” or communion with Him, the knowledge of His person, presupposes bodily participation by man, the bodily asceticism of self-offering (p. 116).

So what are these other forms of self-offering that are “analogous to the example of fasting”?

[S]exual continence, participation of the body in prayer (the prostrations hallowed by the monastic tradition), humbling acts of service, acts of submission and rejection of the individual will, acts of altruism and charity, submission to the liturgical Typikon and participation in the mysteries (sacraments).  All these . . . are not forms of individual resistance or an individual struggle, but of submission by the individual to the universal experience and life of the Church.

Though different in form, these all are mean to bear the same fruit: “Individual effort is transformed into a common effort; the struggle becomes an act of communion, taking its place in the life of the whole body of the Church” (p. 110-111).

Ascetical struggle holds an interesting place in Christian life.  It is the link between self-knowledge and communion.  Unlike these however, it will pass away: “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away,” as Paul reminds the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:10).  And part from these, and especially apart from love, asceticism is of no value to us.  Again, St Paul,

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NKJV).

And what is love?  “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

If prophecy and knowledge are frail (vv. 8-9), if my care for the poor and even my martyrdom are insufficient without love, how much frailer is my fasting?

As always, I welcome your comments, criticisms and questions.

In Christ,

+Fr Gregory

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categories Parish Ministry, Pastoral care, Spiritual Formation | Fr Gregory Jensen February 9, 2010

  • Chrys
    Michael, I think your approach is spot on. As with most of life, whatever we think we "understand" or whatever we imagine that we experience, reflects only a small sliver of what is actually going on. As with almost every form of growth, the really important stuff happens under the surface and is not evident except, maybe, over a long period of time. (I certainly don't see my children "growing" every day, yet - over big chunks of time - the growth is clear.) Worse, if we become focused on these effects, we will be attending to the wrong thing anyway. Orthodox ascetical teaching typically directs us to shun such phenomenon as distracting at best and delusional at worst. This runs against the grain for humanity in general (we do like our stimuli, after all), but especially for Americans who want to see "results." Determining to be obedient regardless of results is at the heart of fidelity. I think you have spoken for a lot of us.
  • Michael Bauman
    My personal experience the fast: All theological explanations I have read over the years, no matter how inticing and interesting have failed to motivate me to fast or helped in the struggle.

    I finally came to the conclusion that trying to figure out the reason for the fast was getting in my way.

    Jesus tells us to fast, the Church says how, I need to be obedient. The more I am able to discipline my heart and mind to that way of thinking, the easier the fast becomes and the easier it is to not judge others.

    I suspect and hope that eventually, by the grace of God, I will see actual spiritual benefits, but if I don't, I don't.
  • Rich
    This also reminds me of last Sunday's epistle reading. What surprises me every time (I'm a slow learner) is that Paul fasts for the sake of his brother. That's the only reason he gives there. This desire not to humiliate or be superior to someone underlies his fast. This is truly loving.
  • I wonder whether we are not getting ahead of ourselves a bit. When it comes to the meaning of fasting, I keep thinking of the advice we are given about prayer - to start with the lips, continue with the mind, and, by God's grace, end up in the heart.

    I'm afraid that in many cases, by focusing on the spiritual aspect of the fast, we end up with a communication breakdown. What we end up saying is that fasting taken strictly as discipline is not the most important thing. In my very limited experience, what seems to come across in that case is that fasting is not important - period. The result seems to me - to wrap up my analogy with prayer - like trying to get to the prayer of the heart without starting with the lips. By God's grace it may happen, but that's not the way things usually work.

    Of course, if we fast from food and we stop there we have a problem. However, my - again, very limited - experience has been that many (if not a majority) of our parishioners do not fast with any regularity. It may be just the places I have encountered, but even so I need to ask: in these situations is it possible to fruitfully focus on the higher things if the basic ones are not in place?
  • Father,

    Christ is among us!

    Thank you for your words. You are of course correct, nothing I or anyone says about the benefits of fasting helps us if we don't fast! :)

    At the same time, when I ran on a regular basis (many years and a few pounds ago!) I had to keep the goal in mind in order to train (I say this because I looked at your blog saw you were a runner too). It is hard to do even the most basic training (athletic or spiritual) without a sense of the goal.

    Now of that, however, detracts from what you remind us of Father: We must actually fast, just as we must actually pray, and not simply wax poetic about the beauty of prayer and fasting.

    Again, thank you for comments and I would encourage people to look at Fr Peter's blog (here).

    In Christ,

    FrG
  • Well I didn't make it at lunch, home now. Thanks for this post, father. it brings it all into perspectve. Basically if we stick to the fast perfectly but overlook the need of our neighbor for a word of kindess or reach out in other acts of love and kindness we pretty much are missing the point and are guilty of being that resounding gong and clanging cymbal.
  • Hopefully at lunch I can get there. How are you Father?
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