Reflections on Fasting
16-11-2019

St Basil The Great

Reflections on fasting of St Basil the Great

The fasting is given in Paradise

“Fasting is as old as humanity: it was legislated in paradise. It was the first command that Adam received: You shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2, 17). You shall not eat legislate the fasting and self-control. If Eve had fasted from the tree, we would not need this fasting now. For those who are well have no need of physician, but those who are sick (Mt 9, 12). We have been injured by sin; let us be healed by repentance. But repentance is futile without fasting.”

The useful results of fasting

“Fasting begets prophets and strengthens mighty men. Fasting makes lawgivers wise. It is good guardian of the soul, a safe companion for the body, the best weapon, a training regimen for contestants. It drives away temptations. It readies for piety. It is the companion of sobriety and the craftsman of self-control. In war it teaches bravery, in peace stillness. It sanctifies the Nazirite/the monk and perfects the priest. For it is impossible to venture upon priestly activities without fasting, not only in the case of our present holy and true worship, but also in the prefigured worship set out in the law.”

“Fasting sends prayer up to heaven, as if it were it wings for the upward journey. Fasting is the expansion of households, the mother of health, the pedagogue of youth, an adornment for seniors, a good companion on journeys, and a safe housemate for married couples.”

The true fasting is the absence of passions

“Nonetheless, do not define the good derived from fasting only in term of abstaining from food. For true fasting is being stranger to vice. Loose every bond of wickedness (Is 58, 6). Let your neighbor grieve you; forgive his debts (Mt 6, 12). Do not fast only to quarrel and fight (Is 58, 4). You do not devour meat, but you devour your brother. You abstain from wine, but you have not mastered your arrogance. You wait until evening to partake of food, but you spend your day judging others. Woe to those who are drunk, but not with wine (Is 51, 21). Anger is a drunken state of soul because, like wine, it robs the soul of sense. Sadness too, is a drunken state because it drowns the mind. Fear is another drunken state, when things happen that should not happen. For it says: deliver my soul from fear of the enemy (Ps 64, 2) Generally speaking, since each of the passions disturbs the mind, each can rightly be called a drunken state of the mind.”

“Fasting brings about the orderliness of a city, the tranquility of the forum, the peace of households the security of possessions.”

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