Categories: orthodox-life, feast-days
Date: 06 February 2009 03:38:04
We enter into 3 weeks of Pre-Lenten Preparation this weekend in the Orthodox Church, with this Sunday's reading being that of The Publican and the Pharisee. The service book used for hymns and readings changes this weekend [to a book called the Triodion] and will remain with us until Holy and Great Saturday, the liturgical celebration before Pascha [Easter].
Fasting during Great Lent is one of the key elements of the Orthodox Great Lent season. But I must say it is one I struggle with, and not just at the season of Great Lent -- the week-to-week fasting is one I struggle with as well. Not so much in terms of not eating or drinking certain food/drinks, though that does have its own struggles, but I struggle with the increased emphasis and thought on Christ and my salvation, and prayer. I have read about fasting and I can clearly see, for me, that it is an important part of my Christian life and that having it in a Church context is also of benefit, but when I have fasted it certainly has not led to any renewed or increased 'spritual life'; if anything I find myself either consciously thinking "Aren't I good?" as I am eating fish instead of red meat or otherwise becoming grumpy because I cannot have a glass of Milo. Hardly spiritually profitable behaviour!
God willing, I will be able to have a talk to my priest, and perhaps find, or at least start looking, for a spiritual Father, during this Lenten season. This aspect of Orthodoxy was one of the things that most drew me in, having an elder Father in Christ, to talk to and to seek guidance, and to have someone to be accountable to -- and yet it is something I have not sought out. God willing, may this change.