Enter By The Narrow Gate: The Ascetic Podvig of Living in the World

Tonight we had the opportunity to discuss asceticism as a preparation for the holy season of Lent. We find in the spiritual  tradition a clear call to enter into a struggle to live the life of faith to its fullest. We are to strive to enter by the narrow gate. 

When we look to the Scriptures and the writings of the Saints we see very clearly that they took no passive approach to the embrace of the faith. They knew that it must be lived and that their life must undergo a revolution. To live in accord with the beatitudes or the sermon on the mount means that one will not fit into the norms of this world. Just the opposite. In so far as we experience ease within this world, or experience success and the favors of this world we may be living a life at enmity with God. 

Our life should be about seeking to love God above all things and seeking to please him. Our exercise of the faith, our asceticism, means nothing if it is merely an exercise of endurance. It must be rooted in our desire for God and the things of God. It must be rooted in love. 

Seen in this light, Lent should not be simply a 40 day period that comes and goes; but rather a springboard into a more committed life in Christ.  Lent is about repentance; turning toward God and away from self and sin. May we take this truth to heart and so know the healing of God‘s grace in all of its fullness.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:03:14 Jean-Paul: in a vow of digital simplicity no camera and no mic

 

00:20:12 Jean-Paul: Could you please re-state the name of that journal

 

00:47:16 Andrew musano: “Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: But they that sin are enemies to their own life.”

 

+ St. Raphael the Archangel, Tobit 12:7-10

 

00:50:41 Anthony: Contendire in Latin.  Contend. Not just "you signed an intellectual contract to get to Heaven."

 

00:51:30 Jean-Paul: The Great Fast begins with the Exultation of the Cross Sept.14

 

00:53:00 Louise A: My dear Father always practiced Ember day fasting....if I remember they were originally associated with the great feasts Christmas,Easter, Pentecost.

 

00:56:30 Andrew musano: Listed below is dates for Fasting in the East. I hope this helps.

 

https://secureservercdn.net/166.62.112.219/1a3.c9d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/the-fasts-of-the-orthodox-church.pdf

 

01:04:13 Jean-Paul: Carthusian guidance on fasting  http://www.quies.org/quies_fasting.php

 

01:05:30 Jean-Paul: Carthusian fasting for the Fathers is usually on Fridays and consists of eating solely bread and water

 

01:10:47 Andrew musano: Let all involuntary suffering teach you to remember God, and you will not lack occasion for repentance.

 

+ St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 57, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)

 

01:18:56 Andrew musano: Ash Wednesday Is a beautiful tradition.

01:28:21 Andrew musano: A foretaste of Heaven on Earth

 

01:36:09 Ren: The adults are the real annoyance. Lets get rid of all of them :-D ;-)

 

01:48:59 Jean-Paul: Can anyone tell how long tonights gather will be

 

01:50:56 Jean-Paul: We are on page 4 will we complete the PDF tonight?

 

01:52:26 Andrew musano: “It is necessary for a Christian to fast, in order to clear his mind, to rouse and develop his feelings, and to stimulate his will to useful activity. These three human capabilities we darken and stifle above all by ‘surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life’ (Lk. 21:34).”

 

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

 

02:10:22 Jean-Paul: More than 40% of the women over 75 live alone -- perhaps there are more hermits and monks than one knows.

 

02:11:11 Bonnie: This has given me an entirely new way to prepare for Lent.  Much deeper, more meaningful, and hopefully long lasting.  Thank you Father!

 

02:11:17 Miron Kerul Kmec: thank you

 

02:11:24 ellice: Thank you! This was beautiful

 

02:11:28 Jean-Paul: Peace and all good

 

02:11:29 Andrew musano: Thank you Fr.

 

02:11:40 Anthony: Thank you :)

 

02:11:50 Larisa Cowell: Thank you Father I loved it.

 

02:12:04 Louise A: many thanks Father