Flesh and Spirit

Many people struggle to understand the spiritual benefits of fasting. Food is blessed by God, so why does the Church ‘punish’ us by not letting us eat? There is so much suffering in the world. It would be nice if food wasn’t the source of our suffering.

Fasting is not about suffering. Fasting is about control. In today’s lesson from Romans, Saint Paul calls our attention to the battle between flesh and spirit. As human beings we are both. Unfortunately, because of our sins, our flesh and our spirit no longer live harmoniously. Thankfully, God has accomplished what we could not.

Brethren, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.

Romans 8.2-13

In our baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit. As Orthodox Christians we understand this ontologically and literally. Our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. As temples of the Holy Spirit, our bodies should be treated with dignity and reverence. Sin is not dignified. Sin is not reverent.

When we fast, we choose to prioritize the Holy Spirit. We train our bodies to serve the Holy Spirit rather than serving the flesh. Yes, food is necessary for life, but so is God. When we prioritize God, He will make sure we have what we need.

And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 12.29-31

If God promises to care also for our flesh when we make Him the priority, then life isn’t about flesh VS spirit. Life is about flash AND spirit. We have both and we need both for life and salvation. Fasting teaches our bodies and souls to live in harmony rather than in conflict.

Do you want to stop sinning? Learn to fast, not as you choose but how your spiritual father teaches you to fast. Fasting is a life-long journey because salvation is a life-long journey. Learn to choose God and your fasting will pay-off in the end.