Great Lent
"And though every day a man lives may rightly be a day of repentance, yet is it in these days more becoming, more appropriate, to confess our sins, to fast, and to give alms to the poor; since in these days you may wash clean the sins of the whole year." - St. John Chrysostom - "The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers"
Ok, so preparation week is over and now we start the journey of the 40 days leading into Holy Week. Great Lent is a time to go deeper in our Christian walk with one focus- growing in our intimate union with our Lord Jesus Christ. The goal isn’t to fast, go on retreat or read more spiritual books. The goal is always the same- intimate union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Fasting and all aspects of the spiritual struggle are not an end in themselves, but means to an end. As one elder monk recently recounted, ‘Spiritual struggle does not earn us grace (as we already received the fullness of grace at baptism), rather the role of spiritual struggle is to overcome the ego and all other barriers that stop us from enjoying the grace that we have received.’ So we don’t fast just to tick the fasting box and accomplish the goal of fasting; fasting is a tried and tested method taught and practiced by our Lord Himself that allows us to enjoy the abundant grace we have received.
There are many reasons why we fast, these short quotes from Fr Matthew the Poor’s book (The Deep Meaning of Fasting) capture the basic Orthodox principles of fasting well.
“In Baptism the connection with our old Adam is cut off, so that we may receive our sonship to God in Christ.
In being filled with the Holy Spirit, our connection with the devil and with the life of sin is cut off, that we may receive the Spirit of life in Christ.
And in fasting, the connection between instinct and Satan is cut off, that the flesh may have victory in its life according to the Spirit in Christ.”
“ The Church’s imitation of Christ’s works is a necessary course of life for us, in which we may discover our salvation, strength, security and victory. It was not for Himself that Christ was baptised, nor was not for Himself that He was crucified, and, consequently, not for Himself that He fasted forty days. The works of Christ- themselves a mighty and omnipotent power- have become sources of our salvation and life. However, their power is not imparted to us unless we experience and practice them. For he who is baptised puts on Christ, and he who is filled with the Holy Spirit lives by means of Christ’s life, and he who fasts wins Christ’s victory over the prince of this world.”
“All the works we perform in the name of Christ, for His sake and in imitation of Him, (whether they be fasting, vigil, patience, endurance of suffering or persecution, service, sacrificial love, or crucifixion) all are but a voluntary translation of the desire to imitate and unity with Christ(“Follow me”). They express communion in spirit, heart and intention”
There are two practical aspects of fasting- abstinence where an individual abstains from food till a certain time of the day, and eating vegan food once abstinence has finished. See your father of confession to discuss how long you should abstain from food from each day as this differs from person to person.
Some other practical tips you may want to consider during this blessed season
Try go to confession at least once or twice during the lenten season.
Limit or eliminate forms of entertainment such as TV subscriptions or social media to allow yourself to live a more inwardly quiet life.
Most parishes have a retreat each lent, attend your local parish retreat and even have your own private retreat for a day or two.
Increase your personal prayer and bible reading with guidance from your father of confession.
If you don’t already, ask your father of confession for guidance on doing prostrations (metanias).
Try attend at least one weekday liturgy. Most parishes have daily liturgies during lent.
Choose a spiritual book to finish during lent.
Try use the money that you will save by abstaining and eating vegan food in almsgiving.
Limit the amount of time you usually spend in social events, dedicating the time you spend in your room to more prayer, reading and quiet reflection.
Great lent is an opportunity to change our daily and weekly schedule for 55 days to be more intentionally focused on growing in intimate union with our Lord Jesus Christ. This blessed season is known as the storehouse of spirituality for the whole year, use it wisely.
“In Lent, we prepare ourselves for the Last Supper. we prepare for the coming together of two like things; for how could he who does not sacrifice himself be worthy of Him who sacrificed His life? If we eat of a sacrificed body while not sacrificing our own selves, how can we claim that union takes place? And the Mystical Supper on Thursday, which is the intentional acceptance of a life of sacrifice, is but a preparation for accepting sufferings openly, even unto death” (Fr Matthew the Poor)
