“In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before Easter).
The beginning of the Great Fast for the Byzantine Church differs from other churches in a few ways but the meaning and intent are similar. There isn’t an Ash Wednesday or even ashes, but instead, the Great Fast begins quietly without notice on a Monday, two days before the more well-known Ash Wednesday the same week.
We are reminded that giving up certain foods during Lent is merely an exercise if not practiced with spiritual intention. Our fasting is a discipline that enables us to make choices. Through fasting we find we do have the ability to delay gratification, focus our priorities, and become more attuned to things beyond our immediate desires. It is less about giving up than exchanging old patterns for new beneficial ones, less about food than about understanding God’s plan for each of us and following his will.”
A student can spend their entire life studying, but ultimately they must take the test to determine if they have truly acquired knowledge or if they have simply gone through the motions of reading and writing. If the words and concepts are not internalized, they will soon fade from memory.
The same can be said for our spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. If we engage in these practices for any other reason than a genuine love for Christ, we will not grow in our faith. We may even realize that our time spent in spiritual study and practice was in vain.
What am I, “tuning into”? What am I allowing to walk through my door (nous/heart)? What is shaping me?
Do I welcome the chisel of Christ or do I shy from the blows that are meant to refine me?
In today’s culture, it’s far more tempting to place a band-aid on a gushing wound than take ourselves to a physician. We fear the cost and try and do it ourselves, only to go to the ER as a last resort. Eventually, our wound becomes infected and we need an amputation or surgery.
Sin festers in such a way. In our individualistic society, we tend to rely on willpower alone or seek external solutions. All the while internally we are in need of repair.
What started as a small crack can turn into countless fragments of shattered glass. Maybe it’s a combination of pride and fear that prevents us from allowing the Lord to heal us.
Afterward, we shall be different, our orientation and way of life will never be the same. Such an encounter will force us to shake off the dust of comfort and complacency. We are to walk into mystery and that’s foreign for those of us who desire certainty.
Christ calls us to more, life to the fullest. This “more” is a product of self denial, of giving away all we have, in order to obtain the Pearl of Great Price. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?
The strange thing about self denial and picking up one’s cross is that rather than being masochistic it is a holistic endeavor. We are made whole from the inside out. The one who was once wounded becomes the medic for their fellow pilgrims.
Less is truly more.
You are freed up to give, in the same manner you freely received grace and restoration from our Lord.
The world may deem you impoverished but you are a child of the King of Kings. Difficulties will arise, but we must stick to the Royal Road laden with unfathomable riches.
Once we begin to “tune in” to God, and get acquainted with the Holy Spirit, the more we get to know the person God created us to be.
We are formed daily by our actions and by what we consume or give our attention to. Imagine if the Spirit became our broadcaster, preferred podcast, or teacher.
Enlighten us that we may know your ways Abba.
That we may mediate on them night and day.
For it is in giving that we receive
Seeds of Contemplation
Before me lies a path, with shadows covering each twist and turn that lies ahead. Yet, I need not fear the great unknown, as trust, faith, and belief are the crusted rounds on which I dine. I see the face of my beloved shining on everything, like a lighthouse for the weary and weather-beaten pilgrim.
Fasting is wonderful, because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed, while it cultivates and raises truth like a flower. – St. John Chrysostom
He who gives alms in imitation of God does not discriminate between
the wicked and the virtuous, the just and the unjust, when providing for
men’s bodily needs. He gives equally to all according to their need. -St. Maximus the Confessor
Water: Prayer of St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life,
Spare me from the spirit of apathy and meddling,
Of idle chatter and love of power.
Instead, grant to me, Your servant,
The spirit of integrity and humility,
Of patience and love.
Yes, O Lord and God,
Grant me the grace to be aware of my sins
And not to judge others,
For You are blessed,
Now and forever.
Amen
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned without number
H.J. Sandigo hails from Placerville, CA. He is a human, fond of telling stories and exploring the wilderness. Jacob writes about pilgrimage, road trips, and the prayer of the heart in a world of distraction. H.J. Sandigo is immensely grateful for the experiences, wisdom, and humor that people have shared with him throughout his travels. You can read more about the author here.
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