Homily 24. #

On the Second Sunday of Lent, a teaching of St. John Chrysostom from the Divine Scriptures on the Holy Fast.

Come, all ye faithful, beloved flock of Christ, that I may offer you the customary instruction. Hear again what was spoken earlier concerning the holy fast. Behold, two weeks of the fast have already passed. This fast is the tithe of the year, established for the healing of the soul. It is fitting for us to offer to God a pure tithe of the soul, just as the saints of old did, for they not only gave a tithe of their possessions but also fulfilled a spiritual tithe through fasting, prayer, prostrations, and almsgiving, and thus were glorified by the Lord God for doing His will.

First, Enoch fasted, and he was taken up in the flesh into heaven, and he still lives to this day. Noah fasted and was delivered from the flood along with his children, from whom the present world has sprung. Abraham also fasted and was called the friend of God, becoming the father of all the prophets and patriarchs. Moses, having purified himself through fasting, spoke with God face to face, and his countenance shone like the sun. Elijah fasted and called down fire from heaven and obtained rain from God for the people. The prophet Daniel, through fasting, tamed the lions and was called “the man greatly beloved.” Joshua, son of Nun, fasted and conquered the heathen nations, even stopping the sun in its course. The three youths, cast into the fiery furnace, quenched the flames through fasting and prayer. The Ninevites fasted and turned God’s wrath into mercy.

And many others in the New Testament also sanctified themselves through fasting, prayer, humility, and almsgiving, drawing near to God. For fasting without humility is like a house without a roof, like a fragile vessel—so too is fasting without humility. And he who fasts but does not show mercy gains little benefit. The saints of God became holy through fasting, prayer, humility, and almsgiving, whose names are too many to count.

But if you say: “The saints were strong, but we are weak and cannot bow our knees,” then at least let us offer a pure tithe, which the Lord our God Himself requires of us. The year consists of 365 days, and from these days, the Lord God has appointed His tithe. Understand this well if you receive into your mind what I say. Thirty-six and a half days, from the total of 365, is the tenth part of the whole year. This holy fast of seven weeks contains forty-nine days. If we exclude the Sabbaths and Sundays, which are the Lord’s days and feast days, we are left with thirty-five days. Adding to these the Holy and Great Saturday and the bright and radiant half-night of Pascha, we complete thirty-six and a half days—the exact tithe of the 365 days of the year.

For this reason, Great Saturday is counted as part of the fast, so that nothing of God’s tithe may be lost. Understanding this, the holy fathers decreed that this Saturday should be observed with fasting, since Christ still lay in the tomb. Thus, this entire period of seven weeks is God’s tithe. And if we do not offer it purely, what shall we answer to God? How shall we receive the forgiveness of sins if even during these days we do not restrain ourselves from drunkenness, gluttony, and other passions?

It was through lack of restraint that the transgression of the law came to be, and through the transgression of the law, by intemperance, death entered the world. Adam did not keep the fast commanded to him by God, and he received bodily death. And we, after so many examples, if we do not observe all the days of the fast, shall we not also die spiritually? For the death of the soul is eternal torment, as the Apostle Paul says: “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”

You yourselves know how greatly God loved the people of Israel, leading them through the Red Sea as on dry land, giving them manna from heaven, and working countless wonders among them, saying: “Israel is my firstborn son.” And yet even they, when they failed to fast, were not spared. For Moses spoke to them from God: “Fast for forty days.” But they fasted only twenty days and then sat down to eat and drink. And the wrath of God came upon them, and twenty-two thousand perished; and fire consumed the rest because of their lack of restraint.

What profit, then, is there for us if we fast for only a week and then indulge our flesh and commit unrighteous deeds? Therefore, I beseech you, do not be deceived when you see some living without fear and caring nothing for their souls. For such men are not servants of God but of their belly, and their end is destruction and death, and after death—eternal torment.

O brethren, I beg you, as you began fasting from the first day, so continue until the Resurrection of Christ. Yet I do not force anyone to fast beyond his strength, but let each observe it according to his ability, without giving in to indulgence. Cast away anger, envy, and slander from yourselves, as the apostle says: “Follow peace and love with holiness.”

For where there is much drinking and feasting, there is a life like that of swine. But let everyone who fasts also refrain from wrath, strife, and all injustice. In patience, gain your reward, that with a pure conscience you may partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. For he who does not receive Communion in these holy days of fasting suffers the famine of the soul.

Therefore, faithful ones, give spiritual nourishment to your soul, even as you give bodily nourishment to the flesh. Do not feed only the body but leave the soul famished, deprived of God’s gift. Rather, satisfy it with the Holy Communion.

To our God be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.