ON FASTING, HOMILY II
A 1. "Speak," it says, "to the ears of Jerusalem." The nature of the word is sufficient to intensify the impulses of the zealous, and to awaken the eagerness of the slothful and sluggish. For this reason, generals, when they draw up their army for battle, are accustomed to use hortatory speeches before the conflict, and such power has this exhortation that it frequently brings even a contempt of death to many. Similarly, instructors of exercises and physical trainers, when they bring those who are to compete into the stadiums, warn them that labors must necessarily be endured for the sake of the crowns; and so, led by the desire for victory, many are persuaded to disregard their own bodies. Consequently, for me too—who array the soldiers of Christ for the war against invisible enemies, and who prepare the athletes of piety for the crowns of righteousness through self-control—this word of exhortation is necessary. What, therefore, do I say, brothers? That it is fitting for those who practice military tactics, and who toil in the wrestling schools, to make themselves corpulent and fleshy with an abundance of food, so that they may be able to undertake labors with stronger sinews; but to those for whom the struggle is "not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness," it is necessary to exercise for the contest through sobriety and fasting. For just as oil makes the athlete sleek, so fasting strengthens the ascetic of piety. Therefore, as much as you subtract from the flesh, so much will you make the soul brighter with spiritual well-being. For it is not from bodily vigor, but from the endurance of the soul and from patience in afflictions, that power against invisible enemies arises.
2. Moreover, fasting is beneficial at all times to those who choose it (for neither does the assault of demons dare anything against one who fasts, and the angels who are the guardians of our life more diligently attend to those who have B purified their souls through fasting); but it is so much more now, when the proclamation is being announced throughout the whole world. And there is no island, no continent, no city, no nation, no remotest corner of the world where the edict of the fast is not heard. But also armies, and travelers, and sailors, and merchants, all alike both hear C the command and receive it with great joy. Therefore, let no one exclude himself from the list of those who are fasting, in which every race of men, every age, and all ranks of dignity are enumerated. Angels are they who account D those who fast in each church.
A See that you do not, for the sake of a small pleasure in food, forfeit your registration by the angel, and find yourself liable to a charge of desertion before him who has recruited the army. The risk of being detected throwing away one's shield in battle is less than the risk of being seen having cast away the great weapon that is fasting. Are you rich? Do not insult fasting by disdainfully excluding it from fellowship at your table, nor drive it from your house without any honor, overcome and defeated by pleasure; lest it should report you to the Lawgiver of fasts, and bring upon you a scarcity much greater than is due by penalty, whether from ill-health of the body or from some other sad misfortune. He who is poor should not consider fasting a sport, since he has long had it as a member of his household and a companion at his table. B Furthermore, for women, fasting is as natural and appropriate as breathing. Let children, like flourishing plants, be watered with the water of fasting. To those who are advanced in years, familiarity with it from long ago makes the labor light; for labors that have been practiced through long habit fall less painfully upon those who are trained. For travelers, fasting is an unencumbered companion on the journey. For just as luxury compels them to bear a burden—namely, the things with which they have gorged themselves, which they carry about—so fasting renders them light and nimble. Moreover, when an expedition far from home is announced, soldiers are supplied with provisions, not for luxury, but for necessity; and will it not be much more fitting for us, who go forth to battle against invisible enemies, and after defeating them hasten toward the heavenly fatherland, to be content, as if living in a military camp, with what is necessary?
3. C Suffer affliction as a good soldier, and compete lawfully, so that you may be crowned; knowing this, that everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things. But what just came into my mind while speaking should not be omitted: namely, that for the soldiers of this world, rations are increased in proportion to their labors; on the other hand, among the spiritual soldiers, he who has less food has more honor. For just as our helmet differs in its nature from a corruptible one—since the material of that one is bronze, whereas ours is fashioned from the hope of salvation—so too their shield is made of wood and ox-hide, D but for us, the protection of faith stands in the place of a shield; and with a breastplate we are...
A armed in righteousness, while they wear a tunic of chainmail; furthermore, we have the sword of the Spirit for defense, while they are defended by iron. It is thus clear that the same foods do not provide strength to both; rather, we are invigorated by the dogmas of piety, while for them the satisfying of the belly is necessary.
Since, therefore, the revolving course of time has brought these long-desired days back to us, let us all receive them gladly, as though they were our old nurses, through whom the Church trains us in piety. Accordingly, when you are about to fast, do not be sad in the manner of the Jews, but, according to the evangelical teaching, show yourself cheerful and bright; nor should you mourn the deprivation of your belly, but rather rejoice in your soul, which is enjoying spiritual feasts. For you know that *the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh* (Gal. v, 17). Since, therefore, these are opposed to one another, let us withdraw the indulgence of the flesh and increase the strength of our souls, so that, by B obtaining through fasting the victory over our passions, we may bind upon ourselves the crowns of temperance.
4. Therefore, show yourself worthy of this most venerable fast, and do not destroy tomorrow’s temperance with today’s drunkenness. It is a bad plan, an evil thought, for those to say: "Since a five-day fast has been proclaimed for us, let us today drown ourselves in drunkenness." No one, intending to take a wife in lawful wedlock, brings harlots and courtesans into his house first. For a lawful wife does not endure living together or sharing a home with those who are corrupt. Do not, therefore, you either, when the fast is expected, bring in drunkenness beforehand—that common harlot, the mother of shamelessness, C the lover of laughter, the madwoman, the one who is prone to every form of indecency. For fasting and prayer will never enter a soul defiled by drunkenness. The Lord admits those who fast within the sacred precincts; but the one who is suffering from a hangover He does not receive, as he is profane and unholy. For if you come tomorrow reeking of wine—and rotting wine at that—how shall I account your hangover as part of fasting? Do not think that, because the unmixed wine you drank was not fresh, you are excused; rather, consider that you are not pure from wine. In what rank shall I place you? Among the drunkards or among those who are fasting? Your past debauchery claims you for itself; your present lack of food testifies to your fasting. You are a contested D person, as if you were a slave to drunkenness, and it will not let you go, since it provides clear evidence of your servitude, the smell of wine having remained in you as if in a vessel. Immediately the first day of the fast will become unapproved for you, because you have stored up in yourself
A the remnants of drunkenness. But that of which the beginning is unapproved, the whole is clearly to be rejected. "Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God." If you come to the fast while drunk, what profit is there for you? For if drunkenness excludes you from the kingdom, of what use, then, is it for you to be fasting? Do you not see that even the most expert horse-trainers, when the day of a contest is approaching, prepare the horses for the contest through abstinence? But you deliberately weigh yourself down with surfeit; to such an extent do you outstrip even irrational animals in the vice of gluttony. A burdened belly is not suitable for running, nor even for sleep; for, being oppressed by its fullness, it is not permitted to rest, but is forced to make many turns to either side, B and is not even accommodated for sleep, because, being distended by a quantity of food, it is not allowed to be quiet, but is forced to turn itself repeatedly first to the right and then to the left.
5. Fasting protects children, makes the young temperate, and renders the old venerable; for gray hairs adorned with fasting are more worthy of respect. For women it is a most fitting adornment, a bridle for those in the prime of life, a safeguard of marriage, a nourisher of virginity. Such are its benefits in the home of each, where it is observed. But how does it regulate our life in public? It suddenly adjusts the whole city and all the people to good order, it calms clamor, banishes fighting, and imposes silence upon insults. Whose presence as a teacher so quickly puts an end to the noise of children as fasting, appearing, suppresses the turmoil of a city? What reveler has come forth during a fast? What wanton chorus has been formed from fasting? Tender laughter, and lewd songs, and frantic dances suddenly depart from the city, having been banished by fasting as if by some austere judge. But if all were to take to themselves fasting as a counselor for the things to be done, nothing would prevent there being deep peace throughout the whole world; neither nations rising up against one another, nor armies clashing together. Weapons would not be forged if fasting were prevalent, neither would law courts be assembled, nor would anyone dwell in C prisons. In sum, neither would the deserts have evildoers, nor the cities sycophants, nor the sea pirates. If all were disciples of fasting, there would not be heard at all, according to the word of Job, "the voice of the exactor"; nor would our life be so filled with sighs and so full of sorrow, if fasting governed our life. For it is clear that it would have taught everyone not only self-restraint in food, D but also the complete avoidance and alienation from avarice, and greed, and every kind of wickedness.
With these things rooted out, nothing would prevent us from passing our lives in deep peace and tranquility of soul. A
6. But now those who reject fasting, and pursue luxury as if the happiness of life were situated in it, have not only introduced that infinite swarm of vices, but also corrupt their own bodies. Observe for me the difference in faces, both of those who will be seen this evening and those who will appear tomorrow. Today they are swollen, suffused with redness, dewed with a light sweat, eyes wet, projecting, and having their power of accurate perception stripped away by the internal fog; but on the morrow you will see the same faces composed, grave, having recovered their natural color, showing forth in their whole bearing a present mind, with all their senses intact, inasmuch as there is no cause within to cast darkness upon their natural activities. Fasting is the likeness of men to angels, the companion of the just, the moderation of life. It was this that made Moses a lawgiver; the fruit of fasting is Samuel. Fasting, Anna prayed to God: "Adonai Lord, Eloi Sabaoth, if looking down you will look upon your handmaid, and give me the seed of a man, I will give it in your sight as a gift." "Wine and strong drink he shall not drink, B until the day of his death." This nourished the great Samson, and as long as it was present with the man, thousands of enemies fell, and the gates of cities were torn away, and lions could not withstand the strength of his hands. But as soon as drunkenness and fornication took hold of the man, he fell easily into the hands of his enemies, and deprived of his eyes, he was set forth as a plaything for the children of the aliens. Fasting, C Elias closed heaven for three years and six months. For because he saw much insolence being born from satiety, he necessarily brought upon them the involuntary fasting of famine, by means of which he halted their sin, which was already pouring forth beyond measure, having cut off the further progress of evil by fasting, as if by some cautery or incision.
7. Receive it, O poor, as the sharer of your table. Receive it, O servants, as a release from the continuous labors of your service. Receive it, O rich, as that which heals the harm inflicted upon you by luxury, and which makes those things that are now despised because of habit, more pleasant by interchange and novelty. Receive it, O sick, as the mother of health. You who are in good physical condition, D receive it as the guardian of your good condition. Ask the physicians, and they will tell you that nothing is more dangerous than an extremely good physical condition. Therefore, those who are most expert in the art remove the excess by fasting, so that the power of nature may not be weighed down by the burden of corpulence. For they deliberately, through deprivation...
breaking down the excess, they provide a certain spaciousness and nourishment, and prepare for the nutritive faculty the principle of a second growth. Thus, the benefit of fasting is appropriate for every practice and every state of the body, and it adorns all things alike—houses, marketplaces, nights, days, cities, and deserts. Since, therefore, it bestows its own good upon us in so many ways, let us receive it joyfully, according to the Lord’s commandment, A not looking gloomy like the hypocrites, but showing forth the cheerfulness of the soul without pretense. And I do not think that there is as much need for me to exert myself in exhorting you to fasting as there is to dissuade anyone from falling today into the vice of drunkenness. For the most part, people undertake fasting partly out of custom and partly out of mutual respect for one another; but I fear drunkenness, which the wine-lovers cling to as tenaciously as if it were a paternal inheritance. For just as those who are setting out on long journeys do, so do some of the B senseless today indulge in wine in preparation for the five days of fasting. Who is so senseless as to begin acting like a drunkard before he has even begun to drink? Do you not know that the stomach does not preserve a deposit? The stomach is a most untrustworthy contractor; it is an unguarded storehouse, into which—though you may deposit many things—it retains the damage, yet does not preserve the things entrusted to it. See that it is not said to you also, when you come tomorrow from drunkenness, the words that were just read: *This is not the fast that I have chosen, saith the Lord.* Why do you mix things that cannot be mixed? What fellowship has fasting with drunkenness? What communion has wine-bibbing C with temperance? *What agreement has the temple of God with idols?* For they are the temple of God in whom the Spirit of God dwells, but those who through drunkenness receive the refuse of licentiousness are the temple of idols. The present day is the vestibule of the fasts. And surely, he who profanes himself in the vestibule is not worthy to enter into the holy places. No servant, wishing to appease his own master, employs his master's enemy as his patron and reconciler. Drunkenness is enmity toward God; fasting is the beginning of repentance. If, therefore, you desire to return to God through confession, flee from drunkenness, lest it create for you a more grievous alienation. Yet, D for fasting to merit praise, it is not sufficient in itself to abstain from food, but let us fast a fast that is acceptable and pleasing to God. True fasting is estrangement from evil, continence of the tongue, the curbing of anger, separation from the desires, from backbiting, from lying, from perjury. Abstinence from these is the true fast. In these things, therefore, is the good of fasting situated.
8. Let us delight in the Lord, in the mediation... 8. Let us delight in the Lord, in the meditation.