In the Malankara Orthodox Syrian tradition, fasting and abstinence are prominent parts of reconnecting, purifying, and healing our bodies, minds, and souls. In this materialistic and secular world, self-indulgence has been encouraged to be a common and innocent practice. To help discourage acting upon your individualistic desire and to seek God’s will, the fasting period is essential. When fasting, the tradition is to abstain from all animal products. This is a key component because, as humans, food is a primal instinct and need. Abstaining teaches a human self-control in place of self-indulgence. However, food is only one of many sinful temptations that we struggle against. Whether it is a small pebble or a big boulder that blocks our path towards the Kingdom of Heaven, during this fasting period, the Church invites us to relearn how to rely and lean on God to strengthen us to overcome those obstacles. With God’s strength and our trust in Him, we will not stumble. There are three pillars of fasting: abstinence, prayer/reading Holy Scripture, and almsgiving (sharing your blessings with ones in need). There are a total of 5 canonical fasting seasons, as well as the regular fasting days of Wednesday and Friday.
One of the main fasting seasons is known as the Great Lent. The Great Lent is an opportunity to reconnect with God, relearn how to center our lives around Him, and prepare ourselves for His Passion. This season lasts for 40 days plus Passion Week. Passion Week is the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this season of repentance, one is encouraged to prepare through confession. The sacrament of Holy Confession allows a Christian to enter the Passion Week in complete preparation. During the fasting period, it is our responsibility to reject Satan, his evil forces, and the temptations that he presents us with. The significance of the Great Lent is that we commemorate and imitate the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert. The temptations that Satan used against Christ are:
- The temptation to turn stone into bread (temptation of hunger)
- The temptation to fall from the temple (temptation of testing God)
- The temptation to attain power by worshipping satan (temptation of power)
However, to each of these tests done by Satan, Jesus replies gracefully and overcomes the temptations. By following His example, we can attain salvation through the efforts we put into each of the fasting seasons.
Take this season as a season of refocusing, repentance, and rejecting Satan. Look back at your spiritual weaknesses and seek guidance from your spiritual father to help rejuvenate yourself during this period of Lent. Also, remember that the discipline we attain through each fasting season should not disappear the day after it ends. It should continue to serve as an example and foundation to our Christian lives, in which we are working towards salvation and the Kingdom of God.