Fasting is a Healer

Fasting is a Healer of both Soul and Body
by Fr. Aleksandar Radunovic  (RTOC).


Oh, wondrous mysteries! Fasting is a healer of both soul and body.

In the dark cloak of night, when silence unveils the sounds of hidden desires of the soul, one encounters the boundless ocean of their emptiness. In these moments, it becomes clear that fasting is more than abstention; it is a call to the mystery of the infinite, an invisible journey to the depths of God’s presence.

Fasting, brothers and sisters, is the mirror of the soul, the relentless judge of our passions. It is not merely the absence of food, but the presence of a spiritual hunger that yearns for the heavenly manna, food that cannot be bought with the silver of the world, but is gained through prayer and tears of repentance.

In the light of the Holy Fathers, the Nativity Fast is an ark of salvation in the flood of our daily temptations. As Noah’s ark preserved life on Earth by God’s will, so does fasting preserve the soul from spiritually sinking into sin. Fasting is an acceptance of God’s call, an echo in the silence of our being that says, “Come and follow me.”

Yet, fasting is not only a physical renunciation; it is a mystery that unfolds in the quiet chamber of the heart, where one faces the Lord face to face. In that encounter, in that transformative experience, we become aware of the light that springs from darkness, a light that cannot be seen with the eyes of the body, but only with the eyes of a cleansed soul.

Oh, what a mystery! The Nativity Fast teaches us that our true nourishment is not of this world, but our real substance is in Christ, the “Bread of Life.” Through fasting, we discover that our greatest hunger is the hunger for God. And every moment in the fast, every restraint, and every renunciation is nothing but a deeply rooted “yes” of our being to Christ’s call.

In the holy silence of the Nativity Fast, our voices become quiet, and our hearts louder. Taught by the Holy Fathers, we realize that every sigh of the fast is not lost; it is a wordless prayer, a prayer that ascends directly to the throne of God, a prayer that cannot be expressed in the language of this world, but in a language understood only by the spirit.

May this Nativity Fast, O Lord our God, lead us into the depths of Your love and wisdom.

Grant us the strength to persevere on the path leading to You, illuminating our steps with the light that comes from You.

May each day of the fast be a journey toward a deeper understanding of Your will, a celebration of our soul rejoicing in Your presence.

Grant us the wisdom to recognize Your signs on this path and the courage to follow Your commands with a pure heart.

Cleanse us from every sin and strengthen our will through the trials that life brings.

In Your hands, we entrust every moment of this holy time, praying that You guide and teach us, that our small sacrifices be pleasing to You.

May our abstinence be an expression of our gratitude for Your boundless gifts, and our prayer a bridge leading to the peace that only You can bring.

Bless, Lord, and multiply the light in our souls so that when the dawn of Christmas arrives, we are ready to greet You with joy and to perceive the fullness of Your love in the arrival of Christ, our Savior.

Amen! Amen! Amen!
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Sourced from: https://trueorthodox.eu/ of the Russian True Orthodox Church in Western Europe 

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