“Lack of self-control is actually an evil
both ancient and modern, though it did not precede its antidote,
fasting. By means of our forefathers’ self-indulgence in paradise and
their contempt for the fast already in existence there, death entered
the world. Sin reigned and brought in the condemnation of our nature
from Adam until Christ.
The flood covered the whole earth because
of the self-indulgence of Adam’s descendants in this world of ours and
their disdain for the chastity which came before. In those days God said
to Noah, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in these men, for they are flesh’
(cf. Gen. 6:3 LXX). The deeds of those who are flesh are none other than
unlimited eating, drunkenness, sensual pleasure and the evils that
spring from them. Because of the abominable depravity and
self-indulgence among the men of Sodom, fire fell on them from heaven
(Gen. 19:24). ‘Behold’, says the prophet Ezekiel, ‘this was the iniquity
of the men of Sodom, in fulness of bread they committed abomination’
(cf. Ezek. 16:49-50). By means of this abomination, ignoring human
nature they fell into unnatural unions. What deprived Esau, Isaac’s
firstborn, of his birthright and his father’s blessing? Of course it was
lasciviousness and an unreasonable demand for food (Gen. 25:25-34;
26:34-35, Heb. 12:16). Why were Eli’s sons condemned to death, and why
did he meet a violent death at the news of the death of his children,
whom he had not disciplined with proper care? Surely it was because they
took the meat from the cauldrons before the time and used it (1 Sam.
2:12-17; 4:11, 17-18). Also, the whole Hebrew nation, while Moses was
fasting on the mountain for their sake, were indulging themselves to
their own detriment. They ate and drank and rose up to play, as the
Scripture says (Exod. 32:6), and their sport was worshipping an idol,
for it was then that the incidents surrounding the fashioning of the
calf took place among them.
Sensual pleasure causes ungodliness as
well as sin, but fasting and self-control result in the fear of God as
well as virtue. Fasting must be accompanied by self-control. Why?
Because eating our fill, even of humble foods, is a hindrance to the
purifying mourning, godly sorrow and contrition in our souls, which
bring about unswerving repentance leading to salvation. For without a
contrite heart we cannot really lay hold of repentance. It is the
restriction of self-indulgence, sleep and the senses according to God’s
will that crushes our hearts and makes us mourn for our sins.”
St. Gregory Palamas
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