Fasting: A spiritual neccessity or a mere 2000 year-old inexplicable diet?

According to  the Armenian Church calendar, Sunday, February 25, 2001, is Poon Parégéntan, the last Sunday before Lent. We will soon enter one of the most exciting seasons of the Church's liturgical life. But, as we approach this holy season, do we know what it is all about? As soon as we hear of Lent many of us think of black curtains covering our Church altars. We are reminded of the confusing and sometimes inexplicable dietary rules that accompany this season. Some of us who are frequent "church-goers" may also recall the beautiful hymns that are sung during the Lenten evening vigils. Others among us may even think of Lent as a period of mourning! But, what is Lent anyway? Is it another 2000-year old Armenian diet? What does my personal diet have to do with my faith and God? Do I have to fast during Lent? Why? What follows is an effort to clarify some of these important aspects of this holy season of our Church, which we are about to enter.  

Lent is a period of forty days designated by the Church as a time of reflection, spiritual discipline and self examination in preparation for Easter. During Lent, Christians prepare for the celebration of the life-giving mystery of Christ's rising from the dead, which became our victory over death. Lent, in a way, is every Christians annual "spiritual checkup." It is the season of inner change and re-dedication to God. During Lent we are called to focus on our spiritual life and Christian duties. We willingly give up certain bodily pleasures to concentrate on our spiritual growth as  individuals and as a community.

The forty days of Lent are patterned after Jesus Christ's forty-day retreat recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:13, and Luke 4:1-13. Before He began His public ministry, our Lord spent forty days retreating in the desert. During this period of time He fasted (4:2), prayed and fought the temptations of Satan (4:3-11). This was not the only time Jesus retreated for prayer and fasting. Frequently, throughout His ministry, Jesus went away into seclusion for fasting, meditation and prayer, and asked His followers to do the same (Mt 14:22ff, 17:21, 21:17, Lk 5:16, 22:39 ... etc). This became the biblical foundation for the Christian practice of fasting and Lent.

Fasting and prayer, therefore, became the two most important elements of Lent. None of these two should be exclusive of the other, and both combined must incorporate sincere worship and devotion to God and love for His people. In later reflections we will discuss the meaning and importance of prayer. For now, let us focus on fasting.

Fasting consists of depriving oneself of foods, drinks and other bodily desires for certain period of time. When we acknowledge food as a gift from God (cf. Deut 8:3 and Mt 6:25-26), then, fasting becomes a religious act and not a mere psychological exercise, dietary practice or pious expression. Fasting helps us express humility before God (Ezra 8:21). We turn to the Lord with an attitude of dependence and total abandonment (Daniel 9:3). IN a way, it is an act of complete surrender to God. It is a cry to God with an intentional self affliction to weaken ourselves and to seek of God a right way for us (Ezr 8:23, Ps 35:13, 69:10). A humble fasting opens the heart to self examination and leads to inner change. Fasting strengthens our will to control our desires and prevents us from being enslaved by them. 

The Holy Bible preserves many examples of fasting that we can learn from, e.g. that of Moses (Exodus 34:28), of Elijah (1 Kings 19:8) and others (Judges 20:26, 1 Sam 7:6, 31:13, 2 Sam 12:16, Ezr 8:23, Acts 13:2). Reading these and many other passages, we realize that fasting, according ot the Bible, is always and essential component in the process of penance and repentance and the sinner's return to God. It is viewed as an act of self discipline before coming in the presence of God (Ex 34 and 1 King 19). Fasting is also a period of preparation before beginning a religious mission or launching a holy war against evil (Ezr 8:22-23).  

Jesus forty-day fasting itself was in preparation for a holy war: His public ministry and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. His fasting affirmed the importance of this spiritual exercise for every Christian (Mk 2:18-20). Our Lord warned His followers about the danger of pride and ostentation if one fasts "in order to be seen" (Mt 6:16). He also warned His followers that there certain kinds of evil that cannot be defeated and destroyed without fasting and prayer (Mt 17:21).

The early Church preserved the biblical tradition of fasting and practiced it in the spirit defined by Jesus. The Acts of the Apsotles, for example, mentions several religious celebrations and observances involving fasting and prayer (Act 13:2ff, 14:22, ... etc). The apostle Paul instructs his followers in Corinth to fast regularly (1 Cor 7:5). The Armenian Church, throughout the centuries, remained faithful to these divine commandments and biblical traditions.  Through fasting the Armenian Church puts her faithful in an attitude of total submission to the grace of God.

Having said all the above, and as we approach the holy season of Lent, it is time for us now to make a commitment. Let us make a serious effort to design our own Lenten discipline. If you are one of those who do not pray regularly, then, make an effort to start a schedule of a daily prayer, TODAY! If you do not read the Bible regularly, this is the time to join the parish Bible Study group, or to make an effort to read a chapter every day. Finally, make sure that your Lenten experience include some kind of fasting. Remember our Lord's saying, "This kind [of evil] does not do out except by prayer and fasting" (Mt 17:21).

Have and inspiring and renewing Lenten journey. 

In Christ's service, 

Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian

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