Today is a good day to pray! Prayer begins with saying certain words to God. The “Our Father” teaches us the kinds of things we should pray. But prayer is more than just reciting words. St. Theophan the Recluse wrote, “Feeling towards God—even without words—is a prayer. Words support and sometimes deepen the feeling.” Spending time with Him who loves us is how our healing begins.
The Orthodox monastic practice of fasting includes abstaining from animal products and alcohol. For most of us, these rules are difficult to follow consistently. Yet we gain spiritual benefit from the fasting that we do undertake. St John Cassian suggests moderation: “Food is to be taken in so far as it supports our life, but not to the extent of enslaving us to the impulses of desire. To eat moderately and reasonably is to keep the body in health, not to deprive it of holiness. A clear rule for self-control… is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satiated.” On Thanksgiving, we don’t fast! On this unique American holiday, we eat and give thanks to the God who has given us so many gifts.
“As water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin.” –Sirach 3.30 Giving of our time, talents, and treasure helps us be less self-centered and helps us practice that virtue that is the goal of all of our labor: love.
May God bless your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this busy season!
A hearty Amen to your advice about Thanksgiving! Celebrating it properly involves eating the traditional Thanksgiving foods--and doing so prevents us from feeling prideful about the rest of the fast--just as you say at the beginning.
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