Replies

Sent with the most recent Parish newsletter, compiled from various postings in these discussions over the years:

The Lenten fast is two-fold. The external fast can include limitation of secular music, particularly the more profane forms, refraining from attending “parties,” etc. Any of the following penitential practices might be used on a given day:

• Take less of what you like and more of what you dislike at meals.
• Take nothing to eat between meals.
• Take only one helping of each item at meals.
• Arise from bed immediately at the first call or alarm—no snooze
button.
• Avoid listening to the radio or television all day;
instead, read the Passion of Christ in Bible.

But that is the easy list. Much more difficult is the spiritual or Internal Fast, which consists of abstinence from “all evil” — sin. St. John Chrysostom taught that the “value of fasting consists not so much in abstinence from food, but rather in withdrawal from sinful practices.”

And St. Basil l the great explains: “Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, suppressing evil desires, and avoiding all gossip, lying, and swearing. To abstain from these things — herein lies the true value of fast! “

Any of these very difficult disciplines will help to “keep a Good Lent”:

• Don’t be distracted with someone else’s business.
• Refrain from saying some unnecessary thing you wish to say.
• Force yourself to smile and be cheerful when feeling sad or irritated.
• Restrain any anger, and go out of your way to be kind to the person
who caused your anger.
•. Do not complain of little discomforts and inconveniences, and even,
at times, seek them out.
• Say, “Thank You, God,” whenever something happens contrary to
your will.

The great difficulty, indeed, outright impossibility in keeping these lists drives us to a greater awareness that it is only by God’s grace that we are saved through Him who prayed “not my will, but Thine, be done”; and Who then lived—and died—those words.

Thanks be to God!