Recently I read a booklet published by the Eastern Orthodox Church called "On Fasting".
The booklet was published for the Eastern Orthodox obviously, but I was able to take much away from it.
Here are some of my quick notes:
In the Old Testament, fasts were done for repentance. Typically there were four prescribed fasts. One in the 4th month, one in the 5th month. One in the 7th and one in the 10 month. These can correspond to our Lenten, Holy Apostles, Dormition (Assumption) and Nativity or Philips Fasts. (Roman Catholics are saying ---what? I thought we only fasted during Lent!)
We become slaves to our stomachs like the Israelites in their desire to return to slavery in Egypt just to have their free food ie. stew pots. (Exodus 16:2-3)
Theophan the Recluse quote: Fasting appears gloomy until ones steps into the arena. But begin and you will see what light it brings after darkness and what freedom from bonds.
Isaak the Syrian quote: Works of the body precede those of the soul, just as day proceeded the soul that breathed into Adam.
Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 6:16-18) We should not look dismal when fasting. We should hide it well. *note to self! And to think about the Publican in his prayer with humility!
If sin came alongside physical eating, why can't our spiritualness be renewed by the humility of obedience through fasting. Perhaps fasting is the AID to repentance.
Here are some of my long thoughts turned into simple sentences:
Perhaps we also sacrifice our freedom in this life when we reject the goodness of food and the companions we share it with.
We live in a desert of technology and it effects how our meals are eaten in our modern society.
We have to acknowledge that everything that enters our body and our hearts either edifies or harms it.
Do we differ from the pagans or the atheists when we celebrate only by eating more and more? Or by choosing to indulge only? Can we embrace the fasting in a new way this year?
When Jesus came out of the desert, he was HUNGRY! Do we allow ourselves to be hungry? To acknowledge the hunger we have? Do we consider that the hunger is only for food? Perhaps there are other needs that we are hungry for...
If we give up a particular food, can we find those moments in which we think we want that food as moments to pray? Vice removed must always be replaced with a virtue otherwise another vice will take it's place. (Perhaps like: Take away facebook for Lent, replace with prayer or chocolate will sneak in it's place.)
My thought is that a Lenten practice should not be seen as a diet. A diet is something you do for a short time and then go back to your way of eating.
A Lenten practice is a behavior or thought process that you can live with the rest of your life. It is something that leads you farther on your spiritual walk and keeps you moving down that path.
I have found in the past I begin to not miss the thing I removed from my life for Lent as long as I, with God's help, have placed something better in it's place.
Our likeness and image that is of God is renewed when we allow ourselves to be conformed. We need to let the divine grace from our baptism permeate ALL of us. Begin again at Lent.
We fast on Wednesday for the betrayal of our Lord.
We fast on Friday for the crucifixion.
We fast during Lent for repentance.
Did you realize there is only a few days until Lent begins?