Do you know Whom you are preparing to receive to you? Him Who promised us: "I and the Father will come, and we will make our abode with him" (John 14:23). Why then do you first resort to drunkenness and close the entrance to the Lord? Why do you allow the enemy to occupy your strongholds in advance? Drunkenness does not give place to the Lord; drunkenness drives away the Holy Spirit. Smoke drives away bees, and immoderate drinking drives away spiritual gifts.

Lent is the beauty of the city, the improvement of the marketplace, the peace of houses, the salvation of property. Do you want to see his honesty? Compare this evening with tomorrow and you will see a city that has passed from noise and excitement to deep silence. But I wish that this evening would be like tomorrow in piety, and that tomorrow would not be inferior in brightness to today.

May the Lord, Who has brought us into this circle of time, help us as fighters, showing firmness and strength of patience in these preliminary struggles, to reach the day that prepares crowns: now (the day) of remembrance of salvific suffering, and in the future age (the day) of recompense for what we have done at the righteous judgment of Christ Himself, because to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Conversation 2. On Fasting 2

It is said: "Comfort, priestesses, people, speak in the ears of Jerusalem" (cf. Isaiah 40:1-2). Such is the property of the word, that it is sufficient both to strengthen the striving of the diligent and to arouse the hunt in the negligent and lazy. For this reason, the commanders, having put the army in formation, before entering the battle, speak exhortatory speeches, and the exhortation has such force that in many it often produces even contempt for death. And those who are skilled in bodily exercises and teach them to young people, when they lead wrestlers out into the field for feats, much convince them of the need to work for crowns, and many, heeding their convictions, do not spare their bodies in the competition for victory. For this reason, I, too, who build up Christ's soldiers for battle against invisible enemies and ascetics of piety, prepare by abstinence for the crowns of righteousness, need a word of admonition.

What shall I say, brethren? Whoever exercises in the art of war, who is engaged in bodily exercises, it is characteristic of him to strengthen his flesh with an abundance of food, in order to take up labor with great strength; but whoever has no battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12), it is necessary for him to prepare for the podvig by abstinence and fasting. For oil anoints the wrestler, and fasting strengthens the ascetic of piety. Therefore, as much as you take away from the flesh, you will give to the soul so that it may shine with spiritual health; for it is not by bodily strength, but by the constancy of the soul and patience in sorrows that victory is gained over invisible enemies.

Fasting is useful at any time for those who raise it, because the demons do not dare to attack the fasting person, but the guardians of our life – the Angels – are more active with those who have cleansed their souls by fasting. But it is much more useful now, when a sermon about it is proclaimed throughout the entire universe. And there is not a single island, nor solid land, nor city, nor people, nor remote land, where this preaching is not heard; on the contrary, the military camps, and the travelers, and the seafarers, and the merchants, all the same hear and joyfully accept the command. Therefore, let no one exclude himself from the list of fasting people, in which all kinds of people, all ages, all differences of rank are entered. Angels in every church record the fasting. For the sake of the short-term enjoyment of food, see to it that you do not lose the angelic record, and before the one who recruits soldiers, do not be found guilty of escaping from the military ranks. There is less danger if someone is accused of fleeing from battle without a shield than when it turns out that he has abandoned the great weapon of fasting. Are you rich? Do not overdo [18] the fast, without deigning to give him a place at your meal; do not send him away from your house, dishonorably forcing him to suffer contempt from voluptuousness, lest the fast in time slander you before the Lawgiver of fasts, and as a punishment impose on you a greater abstinence from food, either because of a bodily ailment or some other sad circumstance. Poor man, do not mock fasting, for it has long been in your house and at your table. And it is as natural for women to fast as it is to breathe. Children, like flowering plants, let them be watered with the water of fasting. For the elders, the work is made easy by an old acquaintance with fasting, because the labors established by long-term habit become less boring for those who practice them. For travelers, fasting is an advantageous companion; For just as luxury forces one to burden oneself with burdens and carry with one what is necessary for enjoyment, so fasting makes them easy and free in action. Moreover, when a long march is prescribed, soldiers store up what is necessary, and not what serves luxury; And for us, who go out against invisible enemies and, after defeating them, hasten to our fatherland, is it not much more proper than those who live in a military camp to be content with what is necessary? Suffer evil, for a good soldier (2 Tim. 2:3), and strive lawfully, that you may be crowned, knowing that everyone who strives will abstain from all (1 Cor. 9:25).

But we must not ignore what has come to my mind now, while I have said this, namely, that the worldly soldiers, according to their labors, are given the provisions of life; and spiritual warriors, the less food they have, the more merit they have. For as our helmet is of different natures with perishable things: the substance of the latter is brass, but ours is made of the hope of salvation (1 Thess. 5:8); and their shield is made of wood and leather, but we have a shield of the stronghold of faith; we are also clothed with the armor of righteousness (Eph. 6:14), and they wear some kind of mail; and our sword for defense is the sword of the Spirit, and they defend themselves with the sword of iron; Thus, obviously, it is not the same food that gives strength to both, but we are strengthened by the dogmas of piety, and for these we need the feeding of the belly. And so, since the returning circle of time has brought to us these much-desired days, let us all receive them with joy, as our ancient educators, through whom the Church has raised us up for piety. Therefore, intending to fast, do not be discouraged in the Jewish way, but show yourself cheerful in the Gospel way (Matt. 6:16), not lamenting the poverty of the stomach, but rejoicing in your soul over spiritual delights. For you know that the flesh lusts after the spirit, but the spirit lusts after the flesh [19] (Gal. 5:17). Since these are opposed to one another, let us take away from the flesh its boldness, and let us increase the strength of the soul, so that, with the help of fasting, we may gain victory over the passions, and be crowned with crowns of abstinence.

Therefore, prepare yourself to become worthy of the most venerable fast, do not spoil tomorrow's abstinence with today's drunkenness. This is a bad reasoning, this deceitful thought: "Since a five-day fast is foretold to us, today we will plunge into drunkenness." No one, intending to enter into a lawful marriage with an honest woman, brings concubines and lewd women into his house beforehand, because the lawful wife will not tolerate cohabitation with the depraved. Therefore, in anticipation of fasting, do not introduce drunkenness to you, this prostitute of the people, this mother of shamelessness, ridiculous, frenzied, prone to disorder of all kinds; for fasting and prayer will not enter into a soul defiled by drunkenness. The Lord accepts the fasting person inside the sacred fences, but does not admit the drunkard as filthy and alien to the holy. If tomorrow you come, emitting the smell of wine, and rotten wine at that, then shall I impute to you your drunkenness during Lent? Reason not about the fact that you have not poured wine into yourself recently, but about the fact that you have not yet been cleansed of wine. Where shall I rank thee? To the drunkards or to the fasting? The previous drunkenness attracts you to itself, and the present non-eating testifies to fasting. Drunkenness contests you as its slave and will not rightly depart from you, presenting clear proofs of your slavery, namely, the smell of wine, which remains in you as in a barrel. Thus, the first day of Lent will not be real for you, because the remnants of ecstasy are stored in you. And where the beginnings are worthless, there, obviously, everything loses its value. Drunkards... The kingdom of God is not inherited (1 Cor. 6:10). If you start fasting drunk, what is the use to you? For if drunkenness shuts up the doors of the kingdom before you, will it be profitable to fast? Do you not see that those who are experienced in riding the horses appointed for the hunting [20] of horses, when they are waiting for the day of the race, prepare for this by not giving them food? And you deliberately burden yourself with overeating. So much surpasses the dumb in gluttony! A burdened womb is not only incapable of running speed, but also of sleep, because being constrained by the multitude of food taken, it does not allow you to lie still, but forces you to often toss and turn from one side to the other.

Fasting protects infants, chastes the young, makes the old man venerable: for gray hair adorned with fasting is more worthy of respect. Fasting is the most decent adornment of women, a bridle in the flower of years, the protection of marriage, the educator of childhood. Such are the services of fasting for each individual house. But how does it regulate our life in society? At once a whole city and a whole people are brought to the deanery, silences the shouts, pacifies strife, silences reproach. What teacher by his arrival stops the noise of children so instantaneously, as the coming fast calms the excitement in the city? What kind of lover of intemperance appeared during the fast? What kind of dissolute assembly was formed by fasting? Tender smiles, prodigal songs, frantic dances suddenly depart from the city, banished by fasting, as if by some strict judge. If all had accepted him as an adviser in their affairs, there would have been nothing to prevent a profound peace in the whole universe: nations would not have rebelled against one another; armies would not engage in battle with each other. When fasting reigned, then weapons would not be forged, no judgments would be held, and others would not be kept in chains; in a word, there would be no robbers in the deserts, no slanderers in the cities, no robbers in the sea. If everyone were disciples of fasting, then, according to the words of Job, there would be no voice at all gathering tribute (Job 3:18). Our life would not be so deplorable and full of despondency if fasting were the main ruler of our lives. For, as is evident, he would teach everyone not only to abstain from food, but also to completely withdraw and alienate ourselves from the love of money, covetousness, and every vice, after the destruction of which nothing would prevent us from leading a life of deep peace and serenity of soul. Now those who reject fasting and pursue luxury as the bliss of life, have introduced this great swarm of evils and, moreover, damage their own bodies.

Notice the difference between faces, how they will appear to you tonight and how they will appear to-morrow. Today, the faces are swollen, red, moistened with fine sweat, the eyes are just as moist and impudent, because of the inner obscuration they are devoid of the fidelity of sensation; but tomorrow the faces will be calm, sedate, will take on a natural color, will be full of intelligence and complete clarity of consciousness, because there will be no cause within that darkens natural actions. Fasting is likening oneself to angels, cohabiting with the righteous, teaching a chaste life. He made Moses a lawgiver. The fruit of fasting is Samuel. While fasting, Anna prayed to God: Adona'i Lord Elo'i Sava'of! If I look upon Thy servant, and give me the seed of a man, I will give it before Thee as a gift: he shall not drink wine or strong drink until the day of his death (cf. 1 Sam. 1:11). He milked the great Sampson; and until he was separated from him, his enemies fell by the thousands, the gates of the city were torn open,21 and the lions could not withstand the strength of his hands. But when drunkenness and fornication took possession of him, he was caught by his enemies and, deprived of his eyes, was exposed to the ridicule of the children of foreigners. Elijah, who fasted, shut up heaven for three years and six months. Since he saw that much impudence is born from gluttony, he of necessity imposed on them an involuntary fast, a hunger, with which he stopped their sin that had already spread beyond measure, by fasting, as if by cauterization or cutting, interrupting the further spread of evil.

Receive him, poor people, as your companion and companion. Accept it, slaves, as a respite from the uninterrupted labors of service. Receive it, you rich ones: it will heal you from the harm caused by gluttony, and through a change it will make more pleasant what is neglected out of habit. Receive it, you sick people: it is the mother of health. Receive it, you who are healthy: it is the guardian of your bodily strength. Ask the doctors, and they will tell you that an excess of health is the most dangerous; For this reason the most experienced by fasting destroy the superfluous, so that under the burden of fattened flesh the strength is not broken. For, by abstaining from food, deliberately destroying what was beyond measure, they give the nourishing power some scope, support, and the beginning of a new increase.

Thus, the benefits of fasting are open to every kind of life, to every state of the body: fasting is equally appropriate everywhere — both in homes and in marketplaces, and night and day, in cities and in deserts. Therefore, let us joyfully accept fasting, which on so many occasions brings us its blessings, let us accept, according to the word of the Lord, not complaining, as hypocrites (cf. Matt. 6:16), but guilelessly showing spiritual joy.