HOLY GREAT LENT
3 Main Pillars of Lent
• Fasting
• Prayer
• Almsgiving (charity)
(Taken from Sermon on the Mount)
Theology of Fasting
• Fasting means to abstain
• Read Galatians 5:16-17
16 But
I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit
[responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then
you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the
flesh (of human nature without God).
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy]
Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the
flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to
each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with
each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from
doing what you desire to do.
15 For
I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled,
bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do
the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].
16 Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that
means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good
(morally excellent) and that I take sides with it.
17 However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin
[principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my
flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the
intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it
out.]
19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil
deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
Romans (7:15-19)
St. John the Short
• 'If a king wanted to take
possession of his enemy's city, he
would begin by cutting off the
water and food and so his
enemies, dying of hunger, would
submit to him. It is the same with
the passions of the flesh; if a man
goes about fasting and hungry, the
enemies of his soul [anger, pride,
revenge, boasting, lustful desires,
etc.] grow weak.'
Correct Asceticism
• Asceticism means to
“exercise”
• Need to correct negative
connotation of Lent
• Lent is a “positive”
exercise to “feed the
Spirit” and “unite the
Body of Christ”
Prayer
• Beware of the “fast of demons”
• Different forms of prayer:
• scriptural
• liturgical (corporate)
• personal
• praises
• thanksgiving
• intercessory
On Prayer
• The brothers asked Abba Agathon:
“Amongst all our different activities,
father, which is the virtue that requires
the greatest effort?” He answered:
“Forgive me, but I think there is no
labor greater than praying to God.
For every time a man wants to pray,
his enemies the demons try to prevent
him; for they know that nothing
obstructs them so much as prayer to
God. In everything else that a man
undertakes, if he perseveres, he will
attain rest. But in order to pray a man
must struggle to his last breath.”
Principles on Prayer
• It takes time
• It takes patience (do not try to do too much)
• Grow in your prayer little by little
• It takes perseverance
• It takes listening
• It takes discipleship
Almsgiving
• Why is giving so important?
• If I am going to become a new person in Christ; a major
area that needs to die is my selfishness.
• Giving makes me more like God
• Read Isaiah 58:6-10
Must Have A Plan
Outside Plan/Inside Plan
• Outside plan = spiritual exercises
• Inside plan = the areas of my old
man that I need to work on
• Goal = directing the spiritual
exercises toward the old man that
must be crucified
Questions to Ask
• What makes me angry?
• What depresses me or gets me down?
• What makes me stressed out?
• What brings me anxiety?
• What bothers me?
• What things can’t I do without?
• What addictions do I have?
• What motivates me?
Conclusion
• Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you
see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend
being honored, do not envy him. Do not let on your
mouth fast, but also the eye, and the ear, and the feet,
and the hands, and all the members of our bodies. Let
the hands fast, by being free of avarice (greediness).
Let the feet fast by ceasing to run after sin. Let the
eyes fast by disciplining them not to glare at that
which is sinful. Let the ear fast by not listening to evil
talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words
and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain
from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our
brothers? St. John Chrysostom.