HOW TO FAST versus HOW NOT TO FAST. The Desert Fathers on fasting, obedience and humility.

Summary

The video script discusses the spiritual and religious significance of fasting, emphasizing its connection to obedience and humility rather than a mere diet. It warns against creating personal fasting rules, as this can lead to pride and displease God. The speaker cites the Desert Fathers, highlighting the importance of adhering to the Church's fasting rules to avoid spiritual pitfalls and maintain a humble and obedient heart.

Takeaways

• 🍃 Fasting in a spiritual and religious context is not about dieting or physical health but is a form of obedience and humility.
• 🚫 Fasting should not be an individual's personal choice but must be based on the rules and traditions of the Church to avoid serving pride rather than God.
• 📜 The script emphasizes the importance of adhering to the guidance of the Desert Fathers and the Church for proper fasting practices.
• 👵 Amma Syncletica warns of a type of fasting that is pleasing to demons due to pride and advises living according to the rules of fasting to discern the right path.
• 🙏 Obedience to the Church's fasting rules is a safeguard against pride and aligns one with the spiritual struggles of the Fathers and Mothers over 2000 years.
• 👹 Pride is identified as a dangerous poison in spiritual life, which can corrupt even the most extreme fasting practices if they are self-imposed.
• 🙇‍♂️ Humility is key in fasting; even if one must eat meat due to humility, it is preferable to fasting with pride, as per Abba Isidore the Priest.
• 🛑 If fasting begins to feed one's pride or sense of self-importance, it is advised to stop and confess this to a spiritual father to combat it.
• 🎭 The Orthodox tradition includes the role of 'Fools-for-Christ' who would publicly break fasts to fight against the sin of pride.
• 🌳 The script uses the story of Adam and Eve to illustrate the importance of obedience in fasting, as they were commanded by God, not choosing their own path.
• 🙌 The ultimate goal of fasting is to strengthen one's obedience to God and nurture humility, not to achieve personal satisfaction or recognition.

Q & A

What is the main message of the video about fasting?

The main message is that fasting should be an act of obedience and humility, not a personal choice or a means to achieve physical health or self-satisfaction.

Why does the speaker compare self-decided fasting to Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden?

The comparison is made to illustrate that just as Adam and Eve's disobedience was a form of pride, self-decided fasting is also a form of pride and disobedience to God's commandments.

What does the speaker mean by 'fasting in its proper meaning'?

The speaker means that fasting should be understood in its spiritual and religious context, not as a diet for physical health or personal choice.

What is the role of obedience in fasting according to the video?

Obedience is crucial in fasting because it aligns the individual with the rules and traditions of the Church, ensuring humility and preventing pride.

What does the speaker warn against in the context of fasting?

The speaker warns against fasting that is done for self-gratification, pride, or without adherence to the Church's rules and traditions.

What is the significance of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers in the video?

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers are used to provide wisdom and guidance on the proper approach to fasting, emphasizing obedience and humility.

What does Amma Syncletica advise regarding fasting?

Amma Syncletica advises to live according to the rules of fasting and warns against fasting that is planned by demons and serves pride rather than God.

What is the danger of fasting that is pleasing to demons according to the video?

The danger is that such fasting, driven by pride, can lead to spiritual harm and destruction, as it is not in line with God's will and the teachings of the Church.

Why does the speaker mention the story of the man called the Faster?

The story illustrates the potential for pride and self-deception in fasting, showing that even those who are admired for their fasting can fall into the trap of self-satisfaction.

What advice does Abba Xenon give to the Faster in the story?

Abba Xenon advises the Faster to eat once a day like everyone else and to do any additional fasting in secret, to avoid the sin of pride and self-admiration.

What does Abba Isidore the Priest say about the relationship between fasting and pride?

Abba Isidore warns that even those who fast according to the Church's rules can fall into pride, and in such cases, it is better to eat meat than to fast and be spiritually harmed by pride.

What is the ultimate purpose of fasting as discussed in the video?

The ultimate purpose of fasting is to strengthen obedience to God and to nurture humility, serving as a spiritual tool rather than an end in itself.