Fasting is beneficial
Many
Christians, unaware of the great value of fasting, either keep the fast
with difficulty or reject it altogether. We should not be afraid to
fast but embrace it with joy. There is nothing for us to fear; rather,
fasting is fearful for the demons. When she is brought before them, they
are overcome with fear, they freeze and become paralyzed, and they are
bound with invisible chains—especially when she
is accompanied by her inseparable companion, prayer. This is why Christ
said, “this generation [of demons] does not come out other than with
prayer and fasting” (Mt. 17:21).
Since
fasting drives the enemies of our salvation far away and is so
frightful to them who oppress us, we should love her dearly, not be
afraid of her. If there is something for us to fear, it is overeating
and drunkenness. Because they handcuff us and lead us captive to the
cruel passions, whereas fasting frees us from the torturous passions and
grants spiritual freedom to us. Since fasting fights against our
enemies, frees us from slavery, and restores our freedom, what other
reasons do we need in order
to embrace her?
I
remind you of the two chief prophets of the Old Testament, Moses and
Elijah. They had great boldness before God on account of their other
virtues; yet, when they wanted to speak with Him, they fled to fasting,
which in turn brought them closer to the Lord (vid. Ex. 24:18; 3 Kg
19:8).
Even
long before them, at the very beginning of creation when God made man,
He immediately entrusted him into the hands of fasting, in order for
her, like a compassionate mother and excellent teacher, to secure his
salvation. The declaration “you may eat food from every tree in the
garden; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not
eat” (Gen. 2:16-17) was nothing other than a commandment to fast. If
fasting was necessary in Paradise, it is much more essential [for us]
out of paradise. If it served as useful medication prior to the wound,
it is much more useful now that we have become wounded. If it was an
indispensable weapon before war broke out with the passions and the
demons, it is much more necessary now that the war has been initiated.
Fasting
made God recall His decision to destroy the Ninevites. Jonah went to
Nineveh and conveyed the divine verdict to its citizens: “Three more
days and Nineveh shall be destroyed” (Jon. 3:4). When the people heard
this, they did not doubt or remain indifferent. Rather, everyone quickly
fled to fasting—men,
women, masters, slaves, rulers, residents, children, and the elderly.
Fasting was even imposed upon the irrational animals. Simultaneously,
everyone throughout the city mourned, prayed, and repented. Do you see
why I said earlier that we should be afraid of overeating and
drunkenness? These two things almost destroyed Nineveh, whereas fasting
saved the city from certain destruction.
The
prophet Daniel entered into the lions’ den along with fasting and came
out unharmed, as if he had been thrown into a sheep’s pen (Dan.
6:16-23).
The three youths entered into the furnace with fasting, and this is
why they exited from the fire with their bodies intact and shinning
(Dan. 3:19-27). If that was a real fire, why didn’t it do what fire
normally does? If those were real bodies, why were they not burnt like
normal bodies? Why? Ask fasting. She will give you the answer; she will
solve the puzzle for you. It is truly an enigma how human bodies
wrestled with and prevailed over fire. Do you see the extraordinary
battle? Do you see the even more wondrous victory? Marvel at fasting and
receive her with open arms.
Because
when she is capable of rescuing people from fire, guarding others from
lions, distancing the demons, overruling God’s decision, subduing the
crazed passions, restoring our freedom, and granting peace to our soul,
when she holds so many goods in her hands, isn’t it foolish for us to
avoid and be afraid of fasting?
